1. Reduced dose and duration of peginterferon alfa-2b and weight-based ribavirin in patients with genotype 2 and 3 chronic hepatitis C
- Author
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Manns, Michael, Zeuzem, Stefan, Sood, Ajit, Lurie, Yoav, Cornberg, Markus, Klinker, Hartwig, Buggisch, Peter, Rössle, Martin, Hinrichsen, Holger, Merican, Ismail, Ilan, Yaron, Mauss, Stefan, Abu-Mouch, Saif, Horban, Andryes, Müller, Thomas H., Welsch, Christoph, Chen, Rongdean, Faruqi, Rab, Pedicone, Lisa D., and Wedemeyer, Heiner
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HEPATITIS C , *DRUG therapy , *INTERFERONS , *RIBAVIRIN , *DRUG dosage , *VIROLOGY , *COHORT analysis , *MEDICAL geography , *GENETICS - Abstract
Background & Aims: There is increasing interest in identifying patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 2 or 3 infection in whom it is possible to lower the burden of therapy while retaining high levels of efficacy. Methods: Treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 2/3 infection were randomized to receive peginterferon alfa-2b (1.5μg/kg/wk) for 24weeks (group A); peginterferon alfa-2b (1.0μg/kg/wk) for 24weeks (group B); or peginterferon alfa-2b (1.5μg/kg/wk) for 16weeks (group C), each in combination with weight-based ribavirin (800–1200mg/d). The study population comprised two cohorts: the Hep-Net cohort enrolled in Germany and an International cohort enrolled at study sites throughout Europe and Asia. The primary end point was sustained virological response (SVR). Results: The study included 682 patients; 80.2% had genotype 3 infection. In the intent-to-treat population, SVR rates were 66.5%, 64.3%, and 56.6% in groups A, B, and C, and were similar in Asian and white patients. Treatment differences (A vs. B and A vs. C) failed to reach the predefined margin for noninferiority of -10%; and thus groups B and C failed to show noninferiority relative to group A. Among patients with undetectable HCV RNA at week 4, SVR rates were 75.3%, 75.9%, and 72.4%, respectively. Relapse rates were 17.8%, 16.3%, and 29.3%, respectively. Treatment-emergent serious adverse events were highest in group A and lowest in group C, and adverse events leading to discontinuation were similar across treatment arms. Conclusions: For patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 2/3 infection, 24weeks of peginterferon alfa-2b (1.5μg/kg/wk) plus weight-based ribavirin remains a standard-of-care therapy; however, treatment for 16weeks may be considered for patients with undetectable HCV RNA at week 4 of the treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
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