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Anwar’s brother, Ahmed, died in 2004 at age 38 from liver cancer. Anwar and his brother Hossam both got liver transplants two years ago after failing to respond to interferon-based therapy. The fourth brother, who preferred not to be named, died of liver disease during the writing of this article.

Since September 2015, the government facilities have been using six locally-produced generics of Sofosbuvir, pricing at LE680 per bottle (a month-long dose), compared with LE2,200 for the originator Sovaldi, said El-Sayed.

Egypt bought US-based Abbvie’s Qurevo (commercial name outside Egypt Viekirax or Technivie), launched earlier this month, for use in its national treatment centres at “around 1 percent” of its international price, or “close to LE3,000 per box (a monthly dose),” according to El-Serafy.

The U.S. Daklinza drug will hit the local markets at a price of 8,000 EGP, while the domestically-produced drug will be available at 200 EGP per bottle at liver treatment centers, and 1,315 EGP per bottle at markets.