New drug regimen cures hepatitis C virus in 12 weeks
A new drug regimen is found to treat hepatitis C is 12 weeks.
Researchers at the Toronto Western Hospital (TWH) Liver Clinic showed that receiving a once daily drug combination of sofosbuvir-velpatasvir for a 12 week period was effective in both treatment-naïve and previously treated patients with HCV genotype 1, 2, 4, 5, or 6, including those with compensated cirrhosis (where scarring of the liver has occurred but patients have yet to experience symptoms as a result of it).
The regimen was tested at 81 sites in eight different countries. After 12 weeks, 99% of the 624 patients who had been treated with a daily tablet of sofosbuvir-velpatasvir experienced a sustained virologic response — the medical term for eradication or cure of HCV — meaning that patients remained free of the virus three months after completing treatment. None of the 116 patients receiving a placebo experienced the same result.
The regimen was tested at 81 sites in eight different countries. After 12 weeks, 99% of the 624 patients who had been treated with a daily tablet of sofosbuvir-velpatasvir experienced a sustained virologic response — the medical term for eradication or cure of HCV — meaning that patients remained free of the virus three months after completing treatment. None of the 116 patients receiving a placebo experienced the same result.
“This is truly a one size fits all treatment that is very easy to administer and extremely well tolerated,” said Dr. Jordan Feld, Hepatologist, Francis Family Liver Clinic, TWH and the first author of the study. “Our challenge now is getting treatment to those who need it. Over half of people living with hepatitis C remain undiagnosed. Fortunately this regimen, along with other advances in therapy, will allow us to move treatment out of specialty clinics so that we can deliver care and ideally cure all infected Canadians.”
The study, released in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Category: Features, Pharmaceuticals
