New Hepatitis C Treatments (cont.)

Medical Author:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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There is a lot more to learn about the new drugs. One thing that seems clear, however, is that they will be effective at eradicating hepatitis C virus (as previously mentioned, upwards of 85% effective). We still will need to learn what combinations are best and for how long it is necessary to treat patients. We also will need to learn more about the drugs' side effects, which will happen once they are used in larger numbers of patients. Nevertheless, this is an exciting time for the treatment of chronic infection with hepatitis C virus.

REFERENCES:

Soriano V, Gane EJ, Angus PW, et al. Efficacy and safety of the interferon (IFN)-free combination of BI 201335 + B1 207127 +/- ribavirin (RBV) in treatment-naive patients with HCV genotype (GT) 1 infection and compensated liver cirrhosis: Results from the SOUND-C2 study. Hepatology. 2013;56:234A.

Jordan JF, Jacobson IM, Jensen DM, et al. Up to 100% SVR4 rates with ritonavir-boosted danoprevir (DNVr), mericitabine (MCB) and ribavirin (R) +/- peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) (P) in HCV genotype 1-infected partial and null responders: results from the MATTERHORN study. Hepatology. 2013;56:231A.