Another New Drug for Hepatitis C

Telaprevir boosted response rates substantially in patients with genotype 1 infection.

In May 2011, the FDA approved two new protease inhibitors — boceprevir (Victrelis) and telaprevir (Incivek) — for treating patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection. Two large boceprevir trials were published recently (JW Gen Med Apr 26 2011); now, we have results of analogous industry-sponsored, placebo-controlled randomized trials of telaprevir.

In one study, 1088 previously untreated patients with HCV genotype 1 infection received standard peginterferon–ribavirin therapy or one of two regimens of triple therapy (peginterferon–ribavirin plus telaprevir). Sustained virologic response rates were significantly higher with the two telaprevir-containing regimens (75% and 69%) than with standard therapy (44%).

Another stu…

Reviewing Author

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Another New Drug for Hepatitis C

Topics

Reviewing Author