12 Apr Chronic Hepatitis C: Combination Pill Achieves High Cure Rates

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Kris V. Kowdley, MD
Director of Research & Director of the Liver Center of Excellence
Digestive Disease Institute
Virginia Mason Medical Center
Seattle, WA 98111

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?

Dr. Kowdley:  A fixed-dose combination of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir in chronic Hepatitis C (HCV) genotype 1 patients without cirrhosis for 8 weeks without ribavirin was equally effective as the same combination with ribavirin added and also a 12 week combination of ledipasvir-sofosbuvir (without ribavirin).

MedicalResearch.com: Were any of the findings unexpected?

Dr. Kowdley:  No, but the study highlights that a large number of patients may be cured with this combination pill without ribavirin.

MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Kowdley: Treatment of chronic HCV genotype 1 in patients without cirrhosis with a combination pill once a day for 8 weeks can achieve high rates of cure.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Kowdley:  To perform additional studies explore whether these results also apply in patients with cirrhosis.

Citation:

Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir for 8 or 12 Weeks for Chronic HCV without Cirrhosis

NEJM April 12, 2014 | N. Afdhal and Others
(DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1402454

International Liver Congress 2014

Last Updated on April 12, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD