Peginterferon plus Ribavirin for 16 or 24 Weeks for Genotype 2 or 3 HCV Infections

Standard treatment for patients with genotype 2 or 3 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections is 24 weeks of pegylated interferon (peginterferon) plus daily ribavirin (800 mg). However, small studies recently have suggested that shorter treatment durations of 12 to 16 weeks could provide comparable sustained virologic response (SVR) rates (e.g., Journal Watch Gastroenterology Jul 26 2005).

In this large industry-supported noninferiority study, SVR rates were compared among 1469 genotype 2 or 3 HCV-positive adults who were randomized to standard or shortened regimens. Patients without coinfections, major psychiatric illnesses, or other major comorbid diseases were recruited from 132 centers worldwide and were stratified by genotype and country of o…