Drug-treated HCV cases in G7 markets to near 500,000 by 2016

A report predicts a dramatic increase in the number of drug-treated hepatitis C patients in the G7 markets by 2016 due to the market entry of all-oral, interferon-free treatments, according to a press release.

The report from Decision Resources Group estimates that the number of drug-treated HCV patients will rise to more than 470,000 in 2 years with the arrival of sofosbuvir (Sovaldi, Gilead Sciences), simeprevir (Olysio, Johnson & Johnson), daclatasvir (Daklinza, Bristol-Myers Squibb) and AbbVie’s ABT-450-based interferon-free combination. In 2013, fewer than 130,000 patients with HCV were treated, the release said.

“Hepatitis C experts agree that the widespread availability of new interferon-free therapies will increase diagnosis among noncirrhotic patients due to expanded screening programs and marketing of new drugs,” Seamus Levine-Wilkinson, PhD, analyst for Decision Resources Group, said in the release.

Many of the more than 2 million diagnosed HCV patients throughout the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Japan refuse or are unable to be treated with existing interferon (IFN)-based therapies, particularly the more than 270,000 patients with Metavir F4 liver fibrosis, the release said.

“Unsurprisingly, surveyed and interviewed experts anticipate that they will treat most HCV patients with IFN-free therapies within 1 to 5 years of launch, irrespective of HCV genotype and liver disease,” Levine-Wilkinson said. “These responses stem from physicians’ recognition that a large number of highly effective, safe, and well-tolerated all-oral/IFN-free regimens will reach the market beginning with the late 2013 launch of sofosbuvir.”

“After 2016, the drug-treated population will gradually decline to approximately 200,000 cases in 2028 as previously diagnosed ‘warehoused’ patients are treated and cured.”