The real-world cure rates offered by Sovaldi (sofosbuvir)–based
hepatitis C virus (HCV) regimens have not been as good as those seen in
clinical trials, at least among a group of veterans with genotypes 1 or
2, Healio reports. Publishing their findings in Alimentary Pharmacology
& Therapeutics, researchers analyzed data from the Veterans Affairs
Clinical Case Registry for HCV on 4,026 vets treated for hep C with
12-week Sovaldi–based regimens.
A total of 3,203 of the vets had genotype 1 and 823 had genotype 2.
Gilead Sciences’ Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir) has superseded
Sovaldi–based regimens (Sovaldi is also a Gilead drug) as the treatment
of choice for those with genotype 1. So this study’s findings may not
be applicable to the current realities of hep C treatment among that
group, especially since this study looked in part at the results of
regimens including interferon, which causes flu-like side effects.
Interferon has largely been edged out of the hep C arsenal.
However, 12 weeks of Sovaldi plus ribavirin is still
the top-recommended regimen for treatment-naive people with genotype 2,
which makes this study more relevant to that population’s current
concerns.
Read more... Labels: real world results, Sofosbuvir