Research Plus

HCV treatment without interferon

A randomised controlled clinical trial of an interferonfree treatment regimen for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection achieved high rates of sustained virological response (SVR) using a once-daily combination of the protease inhibitor simeprevir and the nucleotide analogue sofosbuvir. In total, 167 patients with HCV genotype 1 were randomised to the following groups: simeprevir and sofosbuvir with or without ribavirin for 24 weeks; simeprevir and sofosbuvir with or without ribavirin for 12 weeks. Ninety-two per cent of all patients achieved a SVR, with no improvement either by extending the regime to 24 weeks or adding ribavirin. 

Lancet 2014; 384: 1756–65. doi: doi.org/10.1016/S0140- 6736(14)61036-9.

Tags bbv - bloodborne viruses evidence based practice hepatitis

Occupational Health at Work February/March 2015 (vol. 11/5) pp39