People who purchase hepatitis C virus (HCV) drugs from three online buyers’ clubs around the world have high success rates on treatment, HIVandHepatitis.com reports.

Researchers presented findings from analyses of three groups of people at the International Congress on Drug Therapy in HIV Infection (HIV Glasgow). The cure rates in these studies are comparable to those seen with the use of brand-name hep C treatments.

There were extended follow-up data on 438 of 448 individuals who used the FixHepC Buyers’ Club. All took sofosbuvir in combination with one other drug, including three who took ribavirin, 198 who took daclatasvir and 237 who took ledipasvir.

Ninety percent of all participants who have completed 12 weeks of follow-up after completing treatment achieved a sustained virologic response 12 weeks after completing therapy (SVR12, considered a cure). Eighty percent of those with genotype 3 of hep C, who mostly took sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, were cured, as were 94 percent of those with genotype 1 and all of those with genotypes 2, 4, 5 and 6.

Among those who used the Southeast Asia Buyers’ Club, all took sofosbuvir plus one other drug, including 69 who took ribavirin, 91 who took daclatasvir and 77 who took ledipasvir. So far, 237 individuals in this group have started treatment. Thirty-three have completed four weeks of post-treatment follow-up, and 24 have completed 12 weeks of follow-up. Eighty-five percent of those who have completed the longer follow-up period have been officially cured.

All those who used the Russia and Eastern Europe Buyers’ Club took sofosbuvir; 10 also took ribavirin;156 also took daclatasvir; and 47 percent also took ledipasvir. So far, both people who took ribavirin who have completed 12 weeks of post-treatment follow-up have been cured, as have 98 percent (42 of 43) of those who took daclatasvir and 100 percent (16 of 16) of those who took ledipasvir.

To read the HIVandHepatitis article, click here.