IAS 2015In recent trials Gilead Sciences’ Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir), AbbVie’s Viekira Pak (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir; dasabuvir) and Merck’s investigational grazoprevir/elbasvir all cured high rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among those coinfected with HIV, aidsmap reports. Researchers presented findings from three studies at the 8th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Results from these trials were also presented at earlier conferences. The Harvoni study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The grazoprevir/elbasvir study was published in the Lancet.

The Phase III ION-4 trial of Harvoni included 335 participants, 98 percent of whom had genotype 1 while a small number had genotype 4. Ninety-six percent of the participants achieved a sustained virologic response 12 weeks after completing therapy (SVR12, considered a cure). Black participants only had a 90 percent cure rate, however.

The Phase II/III TURQUOISE-I trial of Viekira Pak included 63 people with genotype 1. Ninety-four percent of those treated for 12 weeks were cured, as were 91 percent of those treated for 24 weeks.

The Phase III C-EDGE study of grazoprevir/elbasvir included 218 treatment-naive people, 86 percent of whom had genotype 1, 13 percent of whom had genotype 4, while two people had genotype 6. Ninety-six percent of the participants were cured.

Merck recently applied for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the single-tablet grazoprevir/elbasvir.

To read the aidsmap article, click here.

To read the Harvoni study abstract, click here.

To read the grazoprevir/elbasvir study abstract, click here.