VIDEO: HERO study shows ‘remarkable cure rates’ in PWIDs treated for HCV

Treatment of hepatitis C virus in high-risk people via methadone clinics showed high rates of sustained virologic response, according to a presentation at The Digital Liver Meeting Experience.

“There were 88% to 90% SVR rates, so that is a little bit lower than what we would typically see in a clinical trial or even a real-world trial, these were a very high risk group of patients actively injecting drugs,” Nancy S. Reau, MD, said in an interview with Healio.

In this study, which looked at ‘co-localized care’ using either patient navigation or observed treatment in conjunction with methadone treatment, researchers showed relative success. Adherence was a little better in the directly observed strategy, Reau said, but both were considered “highly successful.”

“This is a group of patients or individuals who we know are at high risk for transmitting the virus. Yet, they could really achieve remarkable cure rates in those who could navigate the system,” she said.