Hepatitis C guidance: AASLD-IDSA recommendations for testing, managing, and treating adults infected with hepatitis C virus

Background Interferon-containing regimens for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are associated with increased toxic effects in patients who also have cirrhosis. We evaluated the interferon-free combination of the protease inhibitor ABT-450 with ritonavir (ABT-450/r), the NS5A inhibitor ombitasvir (ABT-267), the nonnucleoside polymerase inhibitor dasabuvir (ABT-333), and ribavirin in an open-label phase 3 trial involving previously untreated and previously treated adults with HCV genotype 1 infection and compensated cirrhosis. Methods We randomly assigned 380 patients with Child–Pugh class A cirrhosis to receive either 12 or 24 weeks of treatment with ABT-450/r–ombitasvir (at a once-daily dose of 150 mg of ABT-450, 100 mg of ritonavir, and 25 mg of ombitasvir), dasabuvir (250 mg twice daily), and ribavirin administered according to body weight. The primary efficacy end point was a sustained virologic response 12 weeks after the end of treatment. The rate of sustained virologic response in ...

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ABT-450/r-Ombitasvir and Dasabuvir with Ribavirin for Hepatitis C with Cirrhosis

Background The interferon-free regimen of ABT-450 with ritonavir (ABT-450/r), ombitasvir, and dasabuvir with or without ribavirin has shown efficacy in inducing a sustained virologic response in a phase 2 study involving patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection. We conducted two phase 3 trials to examine the efficacy and safety of this regimen in previously untreated patients with HCV genotype 1 infection and no cirrhosis. Methods We randomly assigned 419 patients with HCV genotype 1b infection (PEARL-III study) and 305 patients with genotype 1a infection (PEARL-IV study) to 12 weeks of ABT-450/r–ombitasvir (at a once-daily dose of 150 mg of ABT-450, 100 mg of ritonavir, and 25 mg of ombitasvir), dasabuvir (250 mg twice daily), and ribavirin administered according to body weight or to matching placebo for ribavirin. The primary efficacy end point was a sustained virologic response (an HCV RNA level of <25 IU per milliliter) 12 weeks after the end of treatment. Results The study regimen resulted in high rates of sustained virologic response among patients with HCV genotype 1b infection (99.5% with ribavirin and 99.0% without ribavirin) and among those with genotype 1a infection (97.0% and 90.2%, respectively). Of patients with genotype 1b infection, 1 had virologic failure, and 2 did not have data available at post-treatment week 12. Among patients with genotype 1a infection, the rate of virologic failure was higher in the ribavirin-free group than in the ribavirin group (7.8% vs. 2.0%). In both studies, decreases in the hemoglobin level were significantly more common in patients receiving ribavirin. Two patients (0.3%) discontinued the study drugs owing to adverse events. The most common adverse events were fatigue, headache, and nausea. Conclusions Twelve weeks of treatment with ABT-450/r–ombitasvir and dasabuvir without ribavirin was associated with high rates of sustained virologic response among previously untreated patients with HCV genotype 1 infection. Rates of virologic failure were higher without ribavirin than with ribavirin among patients with genotype 1a infection but not among those with genotype 1b infection. (Funded by AbbVie; PEARL-III and PEARL-IV ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT01767116 and NCT01833533.)

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ABT-450/r–Ombitasvir and Dasabuvir with or without Ribavirin for HCV

Background Rapid improvements in hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy have led to the approval of multiple oral direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of chronic HCV infection. Purpose To summarize published literature on the efficacy and safety of oral DAAs for treatment of persons with chronic HCV infection. Data Sources MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception through 1 November 2016. Study Selection 42 English-language studies from controlled and single-group registered clinical trials of adults with HCV infection that evaluated at least 8 weeks of an FDA-approved interferon-free HCV regimen that included at least 2 DAAs. Data Extraction Two investigators abstracted data on study design, patient characteristics, and virologic and safety outcomes sequentially and assessed quality independently. Data Synthesis Six DAA regimens showed high sustained virologic response (SVR) rates (>95%) in patients with HCV genotype 1 infection without cirrhosis, including those with HIV co-infection. Effective treatments for HCV genotype 3 infection are limited (2 DAA regimens). Patients with hepatic decompensation, particularly those with Child-Turcotte-Pugh class C disease, had lower SVR rates (78% to 87%) than other populations. The addition of ribavirin was associated with increased SVR rates for certain DAA regimens and patient groups. Overall rates of serious adverse events and treatment discontinuation were low (<10% in the general population); regimens that included ribavirin had more mild or moderate adverse events than those without. Limitations Twenty-three studies had moderate risk of bias (10 were open-label single-group trials, 11 had limited information on concealment of the allocation scheme, and 5 had selective outcome reporting). All but 1 of the studies were industry-funded. Heterogeneity of interventions precluded pooling. Conclusion Multiple oral DAA regimens show high rates of safety, tolerability, and efficacy for treatment of HCV genotype 1 infection, particularly among persons without cirrhosis. Primary Funding Source Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. (PROSPERO: CRD42014009711).

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Oral Direct-Acting Agent Therapy for Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND Novel interferon- and ribavirin-free regimens are needed to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of grazoprevir (NS3/4A protease inhibitor) and elbasvir (NS5A inhibitor) in treatment-naive patients. DESIGN Randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02105467). SETTING 60 centers in the United States, Europe, Australia, Scandinavia, and Asia. PATIENTS Cirrhotic and noncirrhotic treatment-naive adults with genotype 1, 4, or 6 infection. INTERVENTION Oral, once-daily, fixed-dose grazoprevir 100 mg/elbasvir 50 mg for 12 weeks, stratified by fibrosis and genotype. Patients were randomly assigned 3:1 to immediate or deferred therapy. MEASUREMENTS Proportion of patients in the immediate-treatment group achieving unquantifiable HCV RNA 12 weeks after treatment (SVR12); adverse events in both groups. RESULTS Among 421 participants, 194 (46%) were women, 157 (37%) were nonwhite, 382 (91%) had genotype 1 infection, and 92 (22%) had cirrhosis. Of 316 patients receiving immediate treatment, 299 of 316 (95% [95% CI, 92% to 97%]) achieved SVR12, including 144 of 157 (92% [CI, 86% to 96%]) with genotype 1a, 129 of 131 (99% [CI, 95% to 100%]) with genotype 1b, 18 of 18 (100% [CI, 82% to 100%]) with genotype 4, 8 of 10 (80% [CI, 44% to 98%]) with genotype 6, 68 of 70 (97% [CI, 90% to 100%]) with cirrhosis, and 231 of 246 (94% [CI, 90% to 97%]) without cirrhosis. Virologic failure occurred in 13 patients (4%), including 1 case of breakthrough infection and 12 relapses, and was associated with baseline NS5A polymorphisms and emergent NS3 or NS5A variants or both. Serious adverse events occurred in 9 (2.8%) and 3 (2.9%) patients in the active and placebo groups, respectively (difference <0.05 percentage point [CI, -5.4 to 3.1 percentage points]); none were considered drug related. The most common adverse events in the active group were headache (17%), fatigue (16%), and nausea (9%). LIMITATION The study lacked an active-comparator control group and included relatively few genotype 4 and 6 infections. CONCLUSION Grazoprevir-elbasvir achieved high SVR12 rates in treatment-naive cirrhotic and noncirrhotic patients with genotype 1, 4, or 6 infection. This once-daily, all-oral, fixed-combination regimen represents a potent new therapeutic option for chronic HCV infection. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE Merck & Co.

Grazoprevir–Elbasvir Combination Therapy for Treatment-Naive Cirrhotic and Noncirrhotic Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1, 4, or 6 Infection: A Randomized Trial

A B S T R AC T BACKGROUND The interferon-free combination of the protease inhibitor ABT-450 with ritonavir (ABT-450/r) and the NS5A inhibitor ombitasvir (also known as ABT-267) plus the nonnucleoside polymerase inhibitor dasabuvir (also known as ABT-333) and ribavirin has shown efficacy against the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients with HCV genotype 1 infection. In this phase 3 trial, we evaluated this regimen in previously untreated patients with HCV genotype 1 infection and no cirrhosis. METHODS In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we assigned previously untreated patients with HCV genotype 1 infection, in a 3:1 ratio, to an active regimen consisting of a single-tablet coformulation of ABT-450/r–ombitasvir (at a once-daily dose of 150 mg of ABT-450, 100 mg of ritonavir, and 25 mg of om bitasvir), and dasabuvir (250 mg twice daily) with ribavirin (in doses determined according to body weight) (group A) or matching placebos (group B). The patients received the study treatment during a 12-week double-blind period. The primary end point was sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after the end of treatment. The primary analysis compared the response rate in group A with the response rate (78%) in a historical control group of previously untreated patients without cirrhosis who received telaprevir with peginterferon and ribavirin. Adverse events occurring during the double-blind period were compared between group A and group B. RESULTS A total of 631 patients received at least one dose of the study drugs. The rate of sustained virologic response in group A was 96.2% (95% confidence interval, 94.5 to 97.9), which was superior to the historical control rate. Virologic failure during treatment and relapse after treatment occurred in 0.2% and 1.5%, respectively, of the patients in group A. The response rates in group A were 95.3% among patients with HCV genotype 1a infection and 98.0% among those with HCV genotype 1b infection. The rate of discontinuation due to adverse events was 0.6% in each study group. Nausea, pruritus, insomnia, diarrhea, and asthenia occurred in significantly more patients in group A than in group B (P<0.05 for all comparisons). Reductions in the hemoglobin level were all of grade 1 or 2; reductions of grade 1 and 2 occurred in 47.5% and 5.8%, respectively, of the patients in group A, whereas grade 1 reductions occurred in 2.5% of the patients in group B. CONCLUSIONS In previously untreated patients with HCV genotype 1 infection and no cirrhosis, a 12-week multitargeted regimen of ABT-450/r–ombitasvir and dasabuvir with ribavirin was highly effective and was associated with a low rate of treatment discontinuation. (Funded by AbbVie; SAPPHIRE-I ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01716585.)

https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa1401561

Treatment of HCV with ABT-450/r-ombitasvir and dasabuvir with ribavirin.

475 SAPPHIRE I: Phase 3 Placebo-Controlled Study of Interferon-Free, 12-Week Regimen of ABT-450/r/ABT-267, ABT-333, and Ribavirin in 631 Treatment-Naïve Adults With Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1

Junyuan Xiong

Papers

Treatment of HCV with ABT-450/r-ombitasvir and dasabuvir with ribavirin.

475 SAPPHIRE I: Phase 3 Placebo-Controlled Study of Interferon-Free, 12-Week Regimen of ABT-450/r/ABT-267, ABT-333, and Ribavirin in 631 Treatment-Naïve Adults With Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1