Hepatitis C: Good News on Genotype 1b Drug Combo

Patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b infections and compensated liver cirrhosis were 100% cured with a combination of anti-viral tablets taken without the addition of ribavirin, according to study results due to be presented June 26 at the 15^th International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis and Liver Diseases in Berlin, Germany.

In a news release, AbbVie announced phase 3B results of the TURQUOISE-III trial of its ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir tablet, marketed as Viekirax and prescribed with dasabuvir (Exviera/AbbVie).

The drug regimen takes 12 weeks, except in genotype 1a and genotype 4 patients who should take it for 24 weeks with ribavirin.

It is not indicated for patients with severe hepatic impairment, that is, patients whose Child-Pugh score is “C”, the worst rating.

The multi-center open-label study evaluated the safety and efficacy of treatment in 60 adults with genotype 1b chronic hepatitis C infections.

According to the pharmaceutical company, genotype 1b is the most prevalent hepatitis C subtype in genotype 1.

Genotype 1 infection affects 60% of the world’s estimated 160 million people who have hepatitis C.

In the Turquoise III study, the subjects were both treatment-naïve and patients who had failed previous therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.

The Viekirax drug combination is already approved in Europe for treatment of genotype 1 and genotype 4 hepatitis C infection.

Side effects include fatigue and nausea. In the Turquoise III study investigators also reported some subjects had diarrhea and headache.