November 9, 2011 (San Francisco, California) — An interferon-free regimen for the treatment of infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) might soon be available, according to data from the ELECTRON trial, presented here at The Liver Meeting 2011: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases 62nd Annual Meeting. In ELECTRON — 1 of 2 phase 2 studies of the investigational compound PSI-7977 (Pharmasset) reported here — an interferon-free regimen of PSI-7977 plus ribavirin achieved a 100% sustained viral response (SVR) at 12 weeks in all study subjects. The second study, PROTON, was also reported here. PSI-7977 has the potential to dramatically change the treatment paradigm for HCV, said lead study investigator Edward Gane, MD, from Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand. PSI-7977 is a uridine nucleotide analog polymerase inhibitor that is administered once daily with or without food. It has demonstrated robust activity in patients infected with HCV genotype 1 when used in combination with pegylated -interferon and ribavirin after a 12-week course. Activity with this agent used as a monotherapy has also been reported. The aim of the ELECTRON trial was to determine the shortest duration of interferon, if any, required to achieve SVR when PSI-7977 plus ribavirin are administered for 12 weeks, Dr. Gane explained. ELECTRON investigators recruited 40 patients who were randomized to 1 of 4 treatment groups: PSI-7977 400 mg plus ribavirin for 12 weeks plus interferon for 0, 4, 8, or 12 weeks. Patients were treatment-naïve, noncirrhotic, infected with HCV genotype 2 or 3, and stratified by interleukin (IL)28B single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and HCV RNA levels. Mean age was 47 years and mean baseline HCV RNA was 6.49 log10 IU/mL, with 42.5% exhibiting the CC genotype at the IL28B SNP. We selected a genotype 2/3 population because this represents a population that would be more easily rescued with interferon in the event of virologic breakthrough, Dr. Gane explained. Results after treatment initiation were dramatic. All patients achieved a rapid virologic response, with over 80% being nondetectable at 2 weeks, reported Dr. Gane. All patients had undetectable HCV at 3 weeks; furthermore, all patients achieved end-of-treatment response. No cases of treatment resistance were observed. Even following cessation of interferon, or with no interferon, there were no virologic breakthroughs on treatment. Also encouraging was the fact that all patients in the study experienced a rapid normalization of alanine aminotransferase. There were no serious adverse events, and the mild to moderate events observed were attributed to either interferon or ribavirin. Significant improvements in safety and tolerability were seen in the interferon-free treatment group. No safety signals for PSI-7977 were observed, and there were no treatment-related discontinuations. Results of the 12-week analysis prompted study investigators to add an exploratory treatment group of open-label PSI-7977 monotherapy for 12 weeks (n = 10). The response was the same as with combination treatment with ribavirin, said Dr. Gane. Although this study is ongoing, 6 of 10 patients have achieved SVR at 4 weeks. New HCV Drug Achieves 100% Cure Rate Without Interferon
Posted on: Sat, 09 Nov 2013 00:06:10 +0000
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