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$300 HCV combination reaches 97% cure rates in Malaysia, Thailand
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PARIS — Using a new medication and generic sofosbuvir, researchers reached 97% sustained virologic response in patients with hepatitis C both with and without cirrhosis; in this exclusive video from the International Liver Congress 2018, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) addresses the impact of this research.
“These countries are interested by our commission to contribute to their national program,” Isabelle Andrieux-Meyer, MD, head of clinical development for HCV at DNDi, told Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease. “This is really what we're trying to figure out: how do we do a very good clinical development, but also taking into account the affordability and accessibility of the treatment later on.”
In the late-breaking poster presented at ILC 2018, DNDi showed data from 300 patients with a variety genotypes, cirrhosis status, HIV coinfection and prior exposure to HCV treatments. These patients received sofosbuvir and ravidasvir, both medicines produced by Egyptian drug manufacturer Pharco Pharmaceuticals, for 12 weeks if without cirrhosis and 24 weeks if with compensated cirrhosis.
Overall, SVR12 was reached in 97% (95% CI: 94.4-98.6). Cure was achieved in 96% of those with cirrhosis, 97% of those with HIV, 97% of those with genotype 3 and 96% of those exposed to prior treatment.
“From a treatment provider perspective, this is very exciting as we have been waiting for a simple, affordable, robust treatment tolerated by all patients groups, including those whose treatment outcomes are currently poorer, like patients under antiretroviral therapy,” said Pierre Mendiharat, deputy operations director for Doctors Without Borders, which supported this study. “This will be crucial to expand treatment to the most vulnerable categories of patients in developing countries.”
This study was co-sponsored by the Malaysian Ministry of Health.
For more information:
Andrieux-Meyer I, et al. LBP-032. Presented at: International Liver Congress; Apr. 11-15, 2018; Paris, France.
Disclosure: Andrieux-Meyer is an employee of DNDi, which is a non-profit organization.