In patients with HCV genotype 1 infection and cirrhosis, the rate of sustained virologic response was 92% with three new antiviral agents plus ribavirin for 12 weeks and 96% with the same regimen for ...24 weeks. Two percent of patients discontinued treatment because of adverse events.
An estimated 184 million people worldwide have hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection,
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a leading cause of chronic liver disease and the leading indication for liver transplantation globally.
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Approximately 25% of persons with HCV infection in the United States have cirrhosis, and this number is expected to rise to 37% by 2020.
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Eradication of HCV with antiviral therapy reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, and death from a liver-related cause or any cause.
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Among patients with HCV infection and cirrhosis in whom peginterferon–ribavirin treatment has failed, rates of sustained virologic response to retreatment with interferon-containing regimens . . .
The three drug direct-acting antiviral regimen (3D regimen) of ombitasvir, paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir, with and without ribavirin, was evaluated in one Phase II trial and six Phase III ...trials in over 2,300 HCV genotype-1-infected patients. Patients continued taking their protocol-permitted co-medications while receiving the 3D ± ribavirin regimen. The effects of the co-medications on exposures of the 3D regimen and ribavirin were examined.
Population pharmacokinetic model-predicted steady-state area under the curve (AUC
) values were evaluated in the presence/absence of the co-medications. Interactions resulting in a greater than 50% reduction or 100% increase in an AUC
value were examined as covariates for an effect on apparent clearance (CL/F).
More than 1,200 co-medications belonging to 15 drug classes and/or 19 enzyme and transporter inhibitor and/or inducer categories were used concomitantly with the 3D regimen in the trials. Approximately 1,500 patients (65%) in Phase III trials received two or more co-medications from multiple drug classes or categories. No co-medication class/category decreased or increased ombitasvir, dasabuvir, ritonavir or ribavirin AUC
by more than half or twofold, respectively. Opioids, antipsychotics, anti-epileptics, antidiabetics and non-ethinyl estradiol-containing hormone replacement therapies appeared to have an effect (AUC
ratio ≤0.5 or ≥2.0) on paritaprevir exposures. However, when these classes were included in the paritaprevir population pharmacokinetic model, only opioids and antidiabetics had a statistically significant effect on CL/F, but with no clinically meaningful increase in exposures (≤55%).
No dose adjustment is necessary for the 3D ± ribavirin regimen when used with the co-medications included in this analysis as there were no clinically meaningful effects on exposures of the DAAs.
Objective
Whether concomitant HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) affects the safety and efficacy of interferon‐free HCV therapies or whether HCV treatment may negatively affect HIV control is unclear. ...We assessed the 3 direct‐acting antiviral (3D) regimen of ombitasvir, ABT‐450 (identified by AbbVie and Enanta; co‐dosed with ritonavir) and dasabuvir with ribavirin (RBV) in HCV/HIV‐1 co‐infected patients with and without cirrhosis, including HCV treatment‐experienced, receiving atazanavir (ATV)‐ or raltegravir (RAL)‐based ART therapy.
Methods
HCV genotype 1‐positive treatment‐naïve or pegIFN/RBV‐experienced patients, with or without Child‐Pugh A cirrhosis, CD4+ count ≥200 cells/mm3 or CD4 + % ≥14%, and plasma HIV‐1 RNA suppressed on stable ART received open‐label 3D + RBV for 12 or 24 weeks. Rates of HCV‐sustained virologic response at post‐treatment weeks 4 and 12 (SVR4 and SVR12, respectively) and bilirubin‐related adverse events (AEs) are reported from post‐hoc analyses for subgroups defined by treatment duration and ART regimen.
Results
The SVR12 rate for patients receiving 12 weeks of 3D + RBV was 93.5% with comparable rates in patients receiving either ATV (93.8%) or RAL therapy (93.3%) (Table 1). The SVR4 rate for the 24‐week arm was 96.9% with a single virologic breakthrough at treatment week 16 in a patient receiving RAL therapy. Patients receiving concomitant ATV had more AEs related to indirect hyperbilirubinemia including ocular icterus, jaundice and grade 3 or 4 elevations in total bilirubin (predominantly indirect). No patient discontinued the study due to AEs, and no serious AEs were reported during or after treatment. No patient had a confirmed plasma HIV‐1 RNA value ≥200 copies/mL during the treatment period.
Conclusions
In this first study to evaluate an IFN‐free regimen in HCV genotype 1‐positive treatment‐naïve and experienced patients with HIV‐1 co‐infection, including those with cirrhosis, high rates of SVR were comparable to those with HCV monoinfection. Indirect hyperbilirubinemia was consistent with the known ABT‐450 inhibition of the OATP1B1 bilirubin transporter, RBV‐related haemolytic anaemia and inhibitory effect of ATV on bilirubin conjugation. The laboratory abnormalities and AEs observed did not negatively affect treatment response or lead to treatment discontinuation.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
IMPORTANCE: Patients co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are at high risk for liver disease progression. However, interferon-based treatments for HCV ...infection have significant toxicities, limiting treatment uptake. OBJECTIVE: To assess the all-oral 3 direct-acting antiviral (3D) regimen of ombitasvir, paritaprevir (co-dosed with ritonavir paritaprevir/r), dasabuvir, and ribavirin in HCV genotype 1–infected adults with HIV-1 co-infection, including patients with cirrhosis. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: TURQUOISE-I is a randomized, open-label study. Part 1a of this pilot study was conducted at 17 sites in the United States and Puerto Rico between September 2013 and August 2014 and included 63 patients with HCV genotype 1 and HIV-1 co-infection who were HCV treatment-naive or had history of prior treatment failure with peginterferon plus ribavirin therapy. The study allowed enrollment of patients, including those with cirrhosis, with a CD4+ count of 200/mm3 or greater or CD4+ percentage of 14% or more and plasma HIV-1 RNA suppressed while taking a stable atazanavir- or raltegravir-inclusive antiretroviral regimen. INTERVENTIONS: Ombitasvir/paritaprevir/r, dasabuvir, and ribavirin for 12 or 24 weeks of treatment as randomized. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary assessment was the proportion of patients with sustained virologic response (HCV RNA <25 IU/mL) at posttreatment week 12 (SVR12). RESULTS: Among patients receiving 12 or 24 weeks of 3D and ribavirin, SVR12 was achieved by 29 of 31 (94%; 95% CI, 79%-98%) and 29 of 32 patients (91%; 95% CI, 76%-97%), respectively. Of the 5 patients who did not achieve SVR, 1 withdrew consent, 2 had confirmed virologic relapse or breakthrough, and 2 patients had clinical history and phylogenetic evidence consistent with HCV reinfection. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were fatigue (48%), insomnia (19%), nausea (18%), and headache (16%). Adverse events were generally mild, with none reported as serious or leading to discontinuation. No patient had a confirmed HIV-1 breakthrough of 200 copies/mL or greater during treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this open-label, randomized uncontrolled study, treatment with the all-oral, interferon-free 3D-plus-ribavirin regimen resulted in high SVR rates among patients co-infected with HCV genotype 1 and HIV-1 whether treated for 12 or 24 weeks. Further phase 3 studies of this regimen are warranted in patients with co-infection. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01939197
Treating to a target of clinical remission or low disease activity is an important principle for managing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Despite the availability of biologic disease-modifying ...antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs), a substantial proportion of patients with RA do not achieve these treatment targets. Upadacitinib is a once-daily, oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor with increased selectivity for JAK1 over JAK2, JAK3, and tyrosine kinase 2. The SELECT phase III upadacitinib clinical program comprised five pivotal trials of approximately 4400 patients with RA, including inadequate responders (IR) to conventional synthetic (cs)DMARDs or bDMARDs. This review aims to provide insights into the benefit–risk profile of upadacitinib in patients with RA. Upadacitinib 15 mg once daily, in combination with csDMARDs or as monotherapy, achieved all primary and ranked secondary endpoints in the five pivotal trials across csDMARD-naïve, csDMARD-IR, and bDMARD-IR populations. Upadacitinib 15 mg also demonstrated significantly higher rates of remission and low disease activity in all five pivotal trials, compared with placebo, methotrexate, or adalimumab. Labeled warnings of JAK inhibitors include serious infections, herpes zoster, malignancies, major cardiovascular events, and venous thromboembolic events. Short- and long-term integrated analyses showed that upadacitinib 15 mg was associated with increased risk of herpes zoster and creatine phosphokinase elevations compared with methotrexate and adalimumab but otherwise had comparable safety with these active comparators. This review suggests that upadacitinib 15 mg had a favorable benefit–risk profile. The safety of upadacitinib will continue to be monitored in long-term extensions and post-marketing studies.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Additional risk minimization measures (aRMMs) are required for some pharmaceutical products when routine risk minimization measures (i.e., product labeling) are deemed insufficient. Measures often ...include educational materials, such as paper brochures, leaflets, and/or alert cards that provide information to healthcare professionals and patients on the key risks associated with a product and risk minimization actions to take should particular signs or symptoms arise. Paper-based educational aRMMs have several limitations. They do not present information in an interactive manner, and their update and distribution can be costly and often complex. Measuring how effective they are in achieving their aims can also be difficult. Digital methods offer design and delivery flexibility, easier updating processes, opportunities to increase engagement with important information, as well possibilities for tracking distribution, receipt, and potentially understanding of the materials. Pharmaceutical companies have started to look to digital methods as an option for educational aRMMs, alongside paper materials.
Research into healthcare professionals and patient needs and preferences, as well as the general acceptability of digital educational options is needed to establish a baseline. This was an exploratory study intended to provide initial insights on the acceptability of digital aRMMs and to inform future research directions.
Digital concepts for educational aRMMs, one for healthcare professionals and one for patients, were evaluated with 30 healthcare professionals and 20 patients in six countries through 1:1 Zoom calls, with responses recorded in a structured Qualtrics-based survey. Criteria for selecting the six countries included local familiarity with aRMMs as well as interest in and capability to deliver a potential digital aRMM program by the sponsoring company's affiliate teams. Of the healthcare professionals, 19 were rheumatologists and 11 were dermatologists. 16 patients had rheumatologic (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis) conditions and four had atopic dermatitis. These conditions were chosen as they aligned to potential therapeutic areas where the sponsoring company may have the opportunity to use a digital aRMM. Participants were given an overview of the concept as well as the opportunity to interact with it directly via the "control screen" function in Zoom before questions were posed.
The results demonstrated that the majority of healthcare professionals (87%) and all patients interviewed would prefer website-based or app-based delivery, respectively, of aRMM information instead of, or alongside traditional paper-based approaches, with only 13% of healthcare professionals and no patients expressing a preference for paper-only communication.
Given new options offered by digital technology, its widespread use in many fields, and the importance of patient safety as a topic, there is an imperative for pharmaceutical companies and regulators to work together to establish a way forward for the use of digital options for aRMMs. This study is limited in its generalizability but offers some ideas for future research directions.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The article reports on a study to evaluate the efficacy of Ombitasvir, paritaprevir co-dosed with ritonavir, dasabuvir, and ribavarin as a form of treatment for hepatitis C in patients co-infected ...with HIV-1. The results indicate that this form of treatment resulted in high sustained virologic response (SVR) rates among these patients.
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