05 May Hepatitis C: Successful Treatment Without Interferon for HCV 3
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Stefan Zeuzem, M.D.
Professor of Medicine, Chief Department of Medicine
JW Goethe University Hospital
Frankfurt Germany
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Zeuzem: Main finding is that also patients infected with HCV 3 can be cured with an IFN-free regimen. However, duration of therapy must be prolonged to 24 weeks.
MedicalResearch.com: Were any of the findings unexpected?
Dr. Zeuzem: Treatment prolongation from 12 to 16 weeks already suggested that longer treatment duration will increase sustained virologic response (SVR) rates. The magnitude of sustained virologic response rates with 24 wks SOF + RBV in HCV3 was unexpected.
MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Zeuzem: Standard of care for patients infected with HCV 2 is now confirmed to be 12 wks SOF + RBV, for HCV 3 infected patients an IFN-free regimen with chances of SVR > 90% is now also available. These options have already been included in the European label.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Zeuzem: The sustained virologic response rates for treatment-experienced patients with HCV 3 and liver cirrhosis are still “only” 60%. Here, further improvement is needed, likely by addition of another direct antiviral agent with a different mechanism of action and HCV3 activity.
Citation:
Sofosbuvir and Ribavirin in HCV Genotypes 2 and 3
May 4, 2014DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1316145
Last Updated on May 5, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD