| Theme |
Interferon-free Treatment of Hepatitis C |
| Title |
Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus Infection with Viekirax® |
| Author |
Fukiko Mitsui |
Department of Clinical Studies, Radiation Effects Research Foundation |
| Author |
Waka Ohishi |
Department of Clinical Studies, Radiation Effects Research Foundation |
| Author |
Kazuaki Chayama |
Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University |
| [ Summary ] |
The introduction of direct‒acting antiviral agents (DAAs) has significantly advanced the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and interferon‒free regimens that combine DAAs have become a part of the standard treatment. The active ingredients of Viekirax®, an oral antiviral drug available for patients with HCV genotype 1 infection without decompensated cirrhosis, are ombitasvir an HCV 5A inhibitor and paritaprevir an HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor. In a clinical trial in Japan, the Sustained Virologic Response at posttreatment week 12 (SVR12) was more than 90 %, regardless of prior treatment history or the development of cirrhosis in patients. However, because SVR rates decreased when patients were infected with NS 5A resistance‒associated variants (RAVs) Y93 and/or L31, it is recommended that the presence or absence of NS5A RAVs be confirmed before beginning treatment. |