overview.jpg

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. Today there is a variety of hepatitis C treatment medications offered for all genotypes, with various stages of liver disease.

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 November 2015

 

For Genotype 1

Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir) Gilead Sciences

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

Olysio + Sovaldi with or without Ribavirin /Janssen

Victrelis (boceprevir)+ Peg Interferon + Ribavirin / Merck (to be discontinued 12/2015)

For Genotype 2

Sovaldi (sofosbuvir)+ Ribavirin / Gilead Sciences

For Genotype 3

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

Sovaldi (sofosbuvir)+ Ribavirin / Gilead Sciences

Alternative: Sovaldi (sofosbuvir)+ Ribavirin + Peg Interferon for 12 weeks

For Genotype 4

Techivie (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir) AbbVie

Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir) Gilead Sciences

Viekira Pak (without Dasabuvir)+ Ribavirin /AbbVie

Sovaldi (sofosbuvir)+ Ribavirin/ AbbVie

Alternative: Olysio + Sovaldi with or without Ribavirin

Alternative: Sovaldi + Ribavirin + Peg Interferon

For Genotype 5

Sovaldi (sofosbuvir)+ Ribavirin + Peg Interferon

Alternative: Peg Interferon + Ribavirin

For Genotype 6

Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir) Gilead Sciences

Alternative: Sovaldi (sofosburvir) + Ribavirin + Peg Interferon

Under Evaluation for FDA  Approval:

Sofosbuvir + Velpatasvir/ Gilead Sciences for all genotypes.

Elbasvir+ Grazoprevir/ Merck for genotypes 1, 4, 6.

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:

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.

Improvements for Hepatitis C Treatment Continue. . .

Do you have a question or comment about Hepatitis C Treatment?

This entry was originally published on Life Beyond Hepatitis C, November 18, 2015. It is reprinted with permission.