Epclusa (generic name sofosbuvir / velpatasvir) is the first pan-genotypic hepatitis C treatment* to be approved for use in Canada against all six hep C virus types! In celebration, the Hepatitis C Treatment Information Project has put together the following Epclusa information sheet.
Epclusa (PDF)
Treatment Description: Epclusa is a short-course, interferon-free, hepatitis C treatment. It is one pill taken once a day and can be prescribed with or without ribavirin.
Targeted Genotypes: 1-6
Doses and Treatment Lengths:
- 12 weeks of the once-daily pill Epclusa for patients without liver cirrhosis and patients with compensated liver cirrhosis
- 12 weeks of the once-daily pill Epclusa and ribavirin for patients with more serious liver cirrhosis
Possible Side Effects when Taken Without Ribavirin:
- Headache
- Fatigue (Tiredness)
Possible Side Effects when Taken With Ribavirin:
| Fatigue (Tiredness) | Anemia | Nausea | Headache |
| Insomnia (Can’t sleep) | Diarrhea |
Usage Warning: Patients with Bradycardia taking amiodarone can not take Epclusa. There have been reports of severe bradycardia (slow heart rate) or heart block (problems with conduction of electrical signals in the heart). Don’t take rifampin, St. John’s wort, or carbamazepine while taking Epclusa.
Clinical Trial Results for Epclusa
| Clinical Trial | Patients | Treatment Regimen | SVR |
| ASTRAL-1, ASTRAL-2, ASTRAL-3 | 1,035 with hep C genotypes 1-6 with or without cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A) | EPCLUSA (12 weeks) | 98% |
| ASTRAL-4 | 267 patients with genotype 1-6 hep C infection, with decompensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh B) | EPCLUSA with Ribavirin (12 weeks) | 94% |
| EPCLUSA without Ribavirin (12 or 24 weeks) | 83% or 86% |
Momentum Support Program
Epclusa has been added to Gilead Canada’s Momentum Support Program. This support program provides information to patients and healthcare providers to help patients access Epclusa and Gilead’s other hepatitis C treatments. In Canada, please call 1-855-447-7977 for more information.
More Information
- Epclusa: Approved treatment for all hep C types
- Gilead Canada‘s press release about receiving a Notice of Compliance (NOC) from Health Canada for Epclusa
- Epclusa’s Canadian product monograph will be posted shortly
“We can now cure the majority of HCV-infected patients with a simple, safe and effective 12-week treatment, regardless of genotype or treatment history.” ~Dr. Jordan Feld
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*A pan-genotypic treatment is a treatment able to cure all six of the hep C virus types with high success rates against all six.