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Sofosbuvir + GS-5816 for 12 weeks shows high HCV cure rates, but 8 weeks is less effective for some patients
Liz Highleyman, 2014-11-19 18:50:00
A 12-week oral combination of sofosbuvir plus the experimental NS5A inhibitor GS-5816 demonstrated high sustained virological response rates for people with difficult-to-treat HCV genotype 3 and other genotypes, according to phase 2 study findings presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Liver Meeting last week in Boston. Reducing treatment duration to 8 weeks resulted in lower efficacy for people with HCV genotypes 1 and 2, though genotype 3 patients still showed high response rates.
The advent of interferon-free therapy using direct-acting antivirals that target different steps of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) lifecycle has brought about a revolution in treatment for chronic hepatitis C.
Gilead Sciences' nucleotide HCV polymerase inhibitor sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) is among the most effective of these new drugs. A dual combination of sofosbuvir plus ribavirin works well against easier-to-treat HCV genotype 2. The combination of sofosbuvir plus Gilead's first-generation NS5A inhibitor ledipasvir (a coformulation recently approved and marketed as Harvoni in the US) is highly effective against HCV genotype 1, but it is not indicated for other genotypes.
Unlike ledipasvir - which is only active against HCV genotype 1 - Gilead's next-generation NS5A inhibitor GS-5816 is 'pan-genotypic', or active against multiple genotypes. In addition to more effectively treating people known to have HCV genotypes other than 1 or 2, a pangenotypic regimen could help increase access by eliminating the need for genotypic testing prior to treatment.
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