Researchers identified an array of factors associated with a lower likelihood of being cured of hepatitis C virus (HCV) through treatment with Mavyret (glecaprevir/pibrentasvir) or Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) in a recent real-world study.

Presenting their findings at the 53rd International Liver Congress in Vienna, researchers analyzed data on 1,131 people with HCV who began Mavyret between August 2017 and April 2018 and were included in the Trio Health disease management program. The study also included 777 people who began Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) treatment during the same period.

Ninety-three percent of those who received Mavyret and 90 percent of those who received Epclusa achieved a sustained virologic response 12 weeks after completing therapy (SVR12, considered a cure). When the researchers restricted their analysis to include just those who completed treatment and were not lost to follow-up, the cure rate was 98 percent for both groups.

Seventeen individuals (2 percent) completed Mavyret treatment and were not cured.

Factors associated with not being cured by Mavyret included having prior experience with hep C treatment (associated with an 86 percent lower cure rate), having cirrhosis (71 percent lower cure rate), and having a viral load above 6 million and genotype 3 of HCV (86 percent lower cure rate).

Fifteen people (2 percent) completed Epclusa treatment and were not cured. Those who took ribavirin with Epclusa were 84 percent less likely to be cured compared with those who did not take ribavirin.

To read a press release about the study, click here.