VIDEO: Access to generic DAA treatment critical for HCV elimination
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BOSTON — Treatment of hepatitis C virus infection in low- and middle-income countries is key to global elimination efforts, according to an abstract presented at The Liver Meeting.
Between 2014 and 2021, the Polaris Observatory reported that 12.4 million patients with HCV in more than 100 countries received treatment, mostly in low- to middle-income countries. Egypt demonstrated a “substantial uptake” of HCV treatment as part of the country’s elimination program, according to the abstract, and researchers noted this was a main driver of the increased use of sofosbuvir-based treatments in 2019.
“This is still not enough for us to remain on track for global elimination,” Nancy S. Reau, MD, FAASLD, AGAF, section chief of hepatology and associate director of organ transplantation at Rush University, told Healio in an interview.
While most treatments were sofosbuvir-based, more than 80% of the cumulative treatments were generic regimens, according to Reau.
“We are going to have to make sure there is increasing access to the newer generic combinations so that we can work toward even greater efforts toward elimination,” she said.
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Voeller A, et al. Total HCV patients treated with direct acting antivirals since 2014. Presented at: The Liver Meeting; Nov. 10-14, 2023; Boston (hybrid meeting).
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