From Skin and Allergy News, 21 July 2014:
Treatment with the interferon-free oral nucleotide analog sofosbuvir plus ribavirin achieved high rates of sustained virologic response in patients with HIV coinfected with hepatitis C, according to data from an open-label phase III study.
Researchers observed an 82% response rate among treatment-naive patients coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 and HIV, 12 weeks after they completed a 24-week course of therapy with sofosbuvir and ribavirin.
Among treatment-naive patients with HCV genotype 2 who received 12 weeks of treatment, 88% achieved a sustained virologic response at 12 weeks (SVR12) after treatment, and among treatment-experienced patients with HCV genotype 2, 92% achieved the same after 24 weeks of treatment.
The study was published July 19 in JAMA, coincident with the start of the 20th International AIDS Conference in Melbourne.
Treatment of patients coinfected with HIV and HCV, using pegylated interferon and ribavirin with or without an HCV NS3/4A serine protease inhibitor, telaprevir, or boceprevir, has previously been hampered by complex dosing, poor tolerability and drug interactions between HCV medications and antiretrovirals. Read more.
Bianca Nogrady 