Various combinations of Sovaldi (sofosbuvir), Olysio (simeprevir) and ribavirin can cure hepatitis C virus (HCV) among those with decompensated cirrhosis, MedPage Today reports. Researchers in the HCV-TARGET trial looked at a subgroup of 215 participants with a Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score of at least 10 who had not received a liver transplant at the outset of the study. They presented their findings at the 50th International Liver Congress in Vienna, Austria.

The study cohort included 183 participants with genotype 1 of hep C, 30 with genotype 2 and 33 with genotype 3.

The MELD scoring system is used to determine if someone is eligible for a liver transplant. Higher scores indicate more advanced liver disease; generally, a score of at least 16 is required for eligibility. The majority of the participants had a MELD score of 10 to 15. Ten of them had MELD scores greater than 21.

Most of those with genotype 1 took Sovaldi and Olysio, with the remainder taking either Sovaldi and ribavirin or all three drugs. All except one of those with genotype 2 took Sovaldi and ribavirin. All of those with genotype 3 took Sovaldi and ribavirin.

Among the genotype 1 participants, 52 to 74 percent achieved a sustained virologic response 12 weeks after completing therapy (SVR12, considered a cure), depending on which regimen they took. Eighty-one percent of those with genotype 2 were cured, as were 39 percent in the genotype 3 group.

Eighty-eight percent of the participants reported at least one adverse side effect; most of these were mild. Three of the participants died. Twelve received a liver transplant, with 10 of them suffering infections.

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