PCORI awards $29.5 million for HCV research

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute board of governors announced it has approved two grants worth $29.5 million to fund two patient-centered, comparative clinical effectiveness research studies focusing on hepatitis C virus infection, according to a press release.

The grants were awarded after the institute received input from the health care community stating that HCV is in fact a top health concern, according to the release. The clinical effectiveness research studies will compare the “trade-offs between different regimens of new oral antiviral medications and different ways to enhance HCV treatment adherence among injection drug users,” according to the release.

“We heard from many people—including individuals with hepatitis C as well as clinicians who treat them, the pharmaceutical industry, payers and others—that with the great promise offered by new antiviral medications, there are also many questions about hepatitis C therapies and care delivery that need to be answered,” Joe Selby, MD, MPH, executive director of PCORI, said in the release. “As the availability and use of the new antiviral medications increases, we're pleased to support patient-centered [clinical effectiveness research] that will help clinical decision makers to make better informed choices about hepatitis C treatment and care.”

The board also approved 24 awards totaling approximately $54 million, in which various clinical effectiveness research studies will focus on rare conditions and comparing treatments for urea cycle disorders, noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, syringomyelia, among others, according to the release.

Disclosures: Selby reports being employed by PCORI.