In two small trials of AbbVie’s investigational treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV), ABT-493 and ABT-530, with or without ribavirin, the regimen showed promise among those with genotype 3 of the virus. One Phase II trial included two arms, each of which had 24 treatment-naive people with genotype 3 and cirrhosis who were treated for 12 weeks with ABT-493, an NS3/4A protease inhibitor, and ABT-530, an NS5A inhibitor; one arm also took ribavirin. Another trial included an arm of 29 treatment-naive people with genotype 3 who did not have cirrhosis and who received eight weeks of ABT-493 and ABT-530 without ribavirin.

Findings were presented at the 51st International Liver Congress in Barcelona.

All those with cirrhosis achieved a sustained virologic response 12 weeks after completing therapy (SVR12, considered a cure), as did 97 percent of those without cirrhosis.

The most common side effects were comparable across all the study arms: headache and fatigue.