New interferon-free treatment can cure nearly 100 percent of
HIV-positive people coinfected with hepatitis C virus, researchers reported at
the recent 2015 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in
Seattle. But another study showed that delaying treatment results in a higher
risk of liver-related complications and death even after being cured.
Two studies presented at the conference showed that HIV/HCV
coinfected people can expect the same high cure rates as HIV-negative people
using recently or soon-to-be approved antivirals.
Susanna Naggie from Duke Clinical Research Institute
presented results from ION-4, a trial evaluating Gilead Science's HCV
polymerase inhibitor sofosbuvir and NS5A inhibitor ledipasvir – the drugs
in the Harvoni coformulation approved last October. The study enrolled 335
coinfected participants, mostly with HCV genotype 1 (the most common type in
the U.S.).
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Labels: CROI 2015, HIV-HCV coinfection, Treatment