There are a variety of hepatitis C treatment medications offered for all genotypes, with various stages of liver disease today. Until a few years ago there were only two treatments available to treat Hepatitis C and for the first time bring a cure for the Hep C virus.

Improvements in Hepatitis C treatment include majority of treatments today are used without interferon and many can be used with or without ribavirin, depending on factors. Advances in shorter treatment times with less side effects and higher cure rates of 95% or greater are available in a wide variety of new hepatitis C treatment options.

Determining which hepatitis C treatment is best suited for each patient will depend on several factors; patients genotype (virus strain), any prior treatment history and tolerance, liver condition, and viral load.

Length of treatment will depend on; genotype, liver condition, viral load, and if any prior treatment history.  See each treatment for information on side effects and other important information.

Current FDA approved treatments for Hepatitis C as of June 2016 For All Genotypes

Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) by Gilead Sciences

For Genotype 1

Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) to be used with or without Ribavirin by Gilead Sciences

Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir) by Gilead Sciences

Olysio + Sovaldi with or without Ribavirin  by Janssen

Viekira Pak (ombitasvir/partiaprevir/ritonavir/dasabuvir) by AbbVie

Daklinza (Daclastavir+ Sofosbuvir) by Bristol- Myers Squibb (BMS)

Zepatier (elbasvir/grazoprevir) with or without Ribavirin by Merck

For Genotype 2

Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) to be used with or without Ribavirin by Gilead Sciences

Sovaldi (sofosbuvir)+ Ribavirin  by Gilead Sciences

For Genotype 3

Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) to be used with or without Ribavirin by Gilead Sciences

Daklinza (Daclastavir+ Sofosbuvir) by Bristol- Myers Squibb (BMS)

Sovaldi (sofosbuvir)+ Ribavirin by Gilead Sciences

For Genotype 4

Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) to be used with or without Ribavirin by Gilead Sciences

Technivie (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir) by AbbVie

Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir) by Gilead Sciences

Sovaldi (sofosbuvir)+ Ribavirin by Gilead

Zepatier (elbasvir/grazoprevir) with or without Ribavirin by Merck

For Genotype 5

Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) to be used with or without Ribavirin by Gilead Sciences

Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir) by Gilead Sciences

Sovaldi (sofosbuvir)+ Ribavirin + Peg Interferon

For Genotype 6

Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) to be used with or without Ribavirin by Gilead Sciences

Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir) by Gilead Sciences

In Clinical Trials:

There are numerous clinical trials in progress for Hepatitis C for various stages of the disease, genotypes and relating medical conditions. For information on finding out more about a clinical trial or wanting to take part in a clinical trial, see:

  1. Hep’s Hepatitis C Clinical Trials www.hepmag.com/basics/hepatitis-c-basics/hepatitis-c-clinical-trials
  2. Clinical Trial. Gov https://clinicaltrials.gov/
  3. Hepatitis Clinical Trials/CenterWatch http://www.centerwatch.com/clinical-trials/

Hep C Treatment History Snapshot

1989: Non A, Non B Hepatitis is identified and named Hepatitis C.

1991: FDA approved the first alfa interferon (Scherings’s Intron A) to treat hepatitis C.

1998: FDA approved Rebetron (Scherings Intron A plus Ribavirin)

1991 to Mid 2011: Advances in Interferon & Ribavirin treatment for hepatitis C were made but continued to be the only treatment available.

2011: FDA approved the first two protease inhibitors used in combination therapy with Interferon and Ribavirin, Boceprevir (Victrelis) and Telaprevir (Incivek) for genotype 1.  For the first time a cure rate between 66% to 79% was available.

2012: Clinical trial studies of DAA’s (direct acting antiviral medications).

2013: FDA approved Janssen’s Olysio (simprevir) plus peg-interferon and ribavirin for genotype 1. Cure rate up to 80% with 24 weeks treatment.

FDA also approved Gilead’s Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) plus peg-interferon and ribavirin for genotype 1 and 4. Cure rates up to 90% for genotype 1, and 96% for genotype 4. Treatment duration 12 weeks.

FDA also approved Gilead’s Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) plus ribavirin ***without Interferon to treat genotype 2 and 3. Cure rates 93% for genotype 2 for 12 weeks treatment and cure rate of 84% for genotype 3 for 24 weeks treatment.

2014 FDA approved: Gileads Harvoni (sofosbuvir/ledipasvir) ***Interferon and Ribavirin Free treatment. First single dose per day treatment for genotype 1a, 1b, with treatment range from 8 to 24 weeks.

FDA also approved AbbVie’s Viekira Pak, ***Interferon Free. 3D combination treatment with and without ribavirin for genotype 1a, 1b for 12 to 24 weeks.

2015: FDA approved two new drugs.

AbbVie’s Technivie for genotype 4, an Interferon Free treatment, used with ribavirin for 12 weeks, in clinical trials cured 100% of patients without cirrhosis.

Bristol-Myers Squibb, Daklinza for genotype 3. An Interferon and Ribavirin Free treatment for 12 weeks with cure rate averaging from 58% to 98% depending on patient’s liver condition with or without cirrhosis.

2016: FDA approved Gilead’s Harvoni to expand treatment to include genotype 4 along with genotype 1 for liver transplant patients and patients with and without cirrhosis.

Merck’s, Zepatier (elbasvir/grazoprevir) for genotypes 1 & 4 to be used with or without Ribavirin for 12 weeks, with a cure rate of 94% to 97% for genotype 1 and for genotype 4 cure rates of 97% to 100%.

Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) by Gilead Sciences was approved in June 2016. The first treatment effective for all genotypes.

This entry was originally published on Life Beyond Hepatitis C, and is reprinted with permission.