Twenty-four or 48 weeks of daclatasvir plus interferon and ribavirin cured 82 percent of people with genotype 4 of hepatitis C virus (HCV), including those with cirrhosis, in a recent trial, HCP Live reports. Researchers in the COMMAND-4 study conducted a placebo-controlled trial of people with genotype 4 of the virus, including 82 participants who received the NS5A inhibitor daclatasvir plus interferon and ribavirin, and 42 participants who received a placebo plus interferon and ribavirin. The findings were announced at IDWeek 2014 in Philadelphia.

At weeks 4 and 12, 79 percent of participants taking daclatasvir had an undetectable HCV viral load, known as an extended rapid virologic response (eRVR). They spent 24 weeks on the three-drug regimen. Those in the daclatasvir arm who did not achieve an eRVR took an additional 24 weeks of just interferon and ribavirin. All of those in the placebo arm were treated for 48 weeks. Of this group, just 12 percent achieved an eRVR

Eighty-two percent of the participants taking daclatasvir achieved a sustained virologic response 12 weeks after completing therapy (SVR12, considered a cure), compared with 43 percent taking the placebo. Cure rates in the daclatasvir arm were not affected by IL28B genotype, age, race, gender, cirrhosis status or baseline viral load.

A total of 9.8 percent of those in the daclatasvir group experienced severe adverse side effects, compared with 4.8 percent of the placebo group. However, 7.1 percent of those in the placebo group experienced adverse side effects that led to discontinuation of treatment, compared with 4.9 percent of those in the daclatasvir arm.

To read the HCP Live story, click here.