Another Effective All-Oral Regimen for HCV Genotype 1 Infection

Initial studies of daclatasvir, an NS5A replication complex inhibitor, plus asunaprevir, an NS3 protease inhibitor, for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection demonstrated high rates of sustained virologic response (SVR) in genotype 1b infection but not in genotype 1a. Now, results of an industry-funded, phase III trial are available in treatment-naive, treatment-experienced, and interferon-ineligible and/or intolerant patients with HCV genotype 1b infection.

Investigators randomized 307 treatment-naive patients (16% with cirrhosis) stratified by cirrhosis status in a 2:1 ratio to receive daclatasvir (60 mg daily) plus asunaprevir (100 mg twice daily) or placebo for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, the active treatment group completed an additional 12 w…