June/July 2011 (vol. 08/1)

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Treating chronic HCV infection

Adding the oral protease inhibitor boceprevir to standard therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin significantly improves viral suppression in adults with chronic hepatitis C infection genotype-1 (the most common UK genotype), according to two randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trials1,2. Current treatment regimens achieve sustained virological response (ie undetectable viral loads) of less than 50% for people with genotype-1 infection. The two studies examined people with untreated and previously treated chronic infection, respectively, with sustained virological responses of up to 68% and 75%, and significant improvements in previous non-responders. Response varied with ethnic group.

    1. New England Journal of Medicine 2011; 364(13): 1195–1206.
    2. New England Journal of Medicine 2011; 364(13): 1207–1217.
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    Occupational Health at Work June/July 2011 (vol. 08/1) pp41