Telaprevir Shows Promise for HCV, but Concerns Remain

In patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, overall response rates to 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin therapy is between 40% and 50%. Researchers hope that newer regimens will give better response rates with shorter durations of therapy. Now, investigators have evaluated the efficacy of telaprevir (a protease inhibitor specific to HCV nonstructural 3/4A serine protease) and peginterferon alfa-2a with and without ribavirin in the U.S.-based PROVE1 and the European-based PROVE2 trials. In both phase IIb, randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, industry-sponsored trials, patients were stratified according to race (black versus any other) and baseline weight (<75 kg vs. >75 kg). P…