Efficacy of telaprevir-based therapy for difficult-to-treat patients with genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C in Japan.

Abstract

AIM:

This study assessed the efficacy and safety of telaprevir in combination with peginterferon-α-2b (PEG IFN) and ribavirin (RBV), for Japanese difficult-to-treat patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 who had not achieved sustained virological response (SVR) during prior treatment.

METHODS:

In total, 108 relapsed (median age, 59.0 years) and 10 non-responding (median age, 59.0 years) patients with genotype 2 HCV participated. Patients received telaprevir (750 mg, every 8 h) for 12 weeks and PEG IFN/RBV for 24 weeks.

RESULTS:

The SVR rates for relapsers and non-responders were 88.0% (95/108) and 50.0% (5/10), respectively. The SVR rates did not differ significantly between patients with rs8099917 TT and non-TT. The SVR rates for relapsers and non-responders with extended rapid viral response (eRVR) were 97.6% (82/84) and 100% (5/5), respectively. On the other hand, the SVR rates for relapsers and non-responders completing the treatment protocol were 98.4% (61/62) and 100% (5/5), respectively. The overall safety profiles of telaprevir-based regimens were similar for Japanese patients with genotype 1 and 2 HCV infection who experienced treatment failure.

CONCLUSION:

Telaprevir, in combination with PEG IFN/RBV, provided a high SVR rate for genotype 2 HCV, difficult-to-treat patients who had not achieved SVR during prior IFN-based treatment. The eRVR had a strong influence on the cure rate of telaprevir-based therapy. In addition, the continuation of telaprevir-based treatment for up to 24 weeks was a significant predictor of SVR.

• Authors: Hiromitsu Kumada, Ken Sato, Tetsuo Takehara, Makoto Nakamuta, Masatoshi Ishigami, Kazuaki Chayama, Joji Toyota, Fumitaka Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Nakayasu, Miyoko Ochi, Ichimaro Yamada, Takeshi Okanoue
• Journal: Hepatology research : the official journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology (Hepatol Res) Vol. 45 Issue 7 Pg. 745-54 (Jul 2015) ISSN: 1386-6346 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 25196718 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2014 The Japan Society of Hepatology.