Tag Archives: Liver Meeting

Advocacy, Drug Pipeline

2017 Liver Meeting Highlights

The 2017 Liver Meeting HighlightsAttending the Liver Meeting 2017, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)‘s 68th annual meeting, this year were not only researchers and physicians, but also a number of different blog writers. The below are links to some abstracts and blog posts about information presented at this year’s Liver Meeting.

A Few 2017 Liver Meeting Highlights

A Sampling of Blog Posts by Clinical Care Options
A Sampling of Meeting Abstracts Published by Hepatology

 

 

 

Advocacy

Our Top 2016 Hepatitis C Treatment Posts as Clicked by You

Our top 2016 hepatitis C treatment posts as clicked by you are as follows:

Our Top 2016 Hepatitis C Treatment Posts as Clicked by YouThe Top 5 Blog Posts Read in 2016

The Top 5 Facebook Posts that Received the Most Reactions/Clicks in 2016

The Subjects of the Top 5 Tweets Posted in 2016

The Top Email Subjects Received by the Hepatitis C Treatment Information Project in 2016

  • I am thinking about starting treatment and am wondering if you can answer the following questions?
  • I am thinking about starting treatment and am wondering about BC PharmaCare’s liver fibrosis stage F2 or greater treatment eligibility cut off.

May 2017 be a year just as full of exciting hep C headlines and developments as 2016 was. Happy New Year from all of us at the Pacific Hepatitis C Network!

Drug Pipeline

Grazoprevir and Elbasvir at the Liver Meeting 2016

Grazoprevir and Elbasvir at the Liver Meeting 2016As we begin to look back on 2016, this post highlights some of the presentations that took place at the Liver Meeting 2016 about the hep C treatments grazoprevir and elbasvir.

Grazoprevir and Elbasvir

  • #74 – C-ISLE: Grazoprevir/Elbasvir plus Sofosbuvir in Treatment- naïve and Treatment-experienced HCV GT3 Cirrhotic Patients Treated for 8, 12 or 16 weeks
Treatment Naive Treatment Experienced
Arm 1, 8 weeks + RBV Arm 2, 12 weeks without RBV Arm 3, 12 weeks without RBV Arm 4, 12 weeks with RBV Arm 5, 16 weeks without RBV
Treatment Week 4 87% 74% 71% 88% 71%
Treatment Week 8 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
  • #76 – Efficacy and Safety of Elbasvir/Grazoprevir in Treatment-Naive Subjects with Chronic HCV GT 1, GT 4 and GT 6 Infection (C-CORAL): A Phase III Randomized Multinational Clinical Trial

Summary: Hepatitis C contributes significantly to the overall liver disease burden in the Asia Pacific region and Russia where the seroprevalence rates vary from 1-5% and genotype (GT) 1b accounts for about half of infections. Conclusion: A 12-week regimen of EBR/GZR is effective and well-tolerated in GT1 and GT4-infected, treatment-naive patients in the Asia Pacific/Russia region.

Genotype SVR12 Rate
Overall (232/250) 92.8%
GT1a (23/26) 88.5%
GT1b (185/187) 98.9%
GT4 (2/2) 100%
GT6 (22/35) 62.9%
  • #110 – Safety and Efficacy of the Fixed-Dose Combination Regimen of MK-3682/Grazoprevir/MK-8408 With or Without Ribavirin in Non-cirrhotic or Cirrhotic Patients with Chronic HCV GT1, 2 or 3 Infection (Part B of C-CREST-1 & 2)

Summary: Treatment was generally well tolerated, with no cardiac or renal safety signals seen. One GT1-infected patient died due to a study drug-unrelated bacterial sepsis The most common side effects, in >5% of all patients, were fatigue, headache, and nausea.

Patients SVR8/12 Rate
126 GT1-infected patients who recieved 8 or 12 weeks of treatment 100%
85 patients (46 GT1a/39 GT1b) who received 12 weeks of therapy 100%
  • #112 – High Sustained Virologic Response (SVR) Rates in Patients with Chronic HCV GT1, 2 or 3 Infection Following 16 Weeks of MK-3682/Grazoprevir/MK-8408 Plus Ribavirin After Failure of 8 Weeks of Therapy (Part C of C-CREST-1 & 2)

Summary: To evaluate a retreatment regimen for patients who had failed therapy with a 3-drug direct-acting antiviral (DAA) combination: MK-3682, an NS5B polymerase inhibitor, grazoprevir, an NS3/4A protease inhibitor, and either elbasvir or MK-8408, which are NS5A inhibitors. All of the patients achieved SVR. The most common (>10%) side effects were headache, fatigue, nausea, rash, pruritus, insomnia, decreased hemoglobin, and cough.

  • #193 – Safety and Efficacy of the Fixed-Dose Combination Regimen of MK-3682/Grazoprevir/MK-8408 in Cirrhotic or Non-cirrhotic Patients with Chronic HCV GT1 Infection who Previously Failed a Direct-acting Antiviral Regimen (C-SURGE)

Summary: Patients who have failed an NS5A-containing DAA treatment regimen (Harvoni or Zepatier) are an unmet medical need because there isn’t enough data to guide physicians in their management. This study found that the treatment MK-3682/Grazoprevir/MK-8408 did well.

Arm Proportion of Patients with HCV RNA <15 IU/mL
Treatment Week 4 Treatment Week 8
16 weeks + RBV 39/42 (93%) 35/35 (100%)
24 weeks without RBV 44/49 (90%) 38/38 (100%)

More information about the Liver Meeting 2016 or these and other studies can be found in our blog post The Liver Meeting 2016 Hep C Abstract Highlights (Part2) or on the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)’s website.

Advocacy

The PHCN‘s News in Review Newsletter (06/12/16)

The PHCN‘s News in Review Newsletter (06/12/16)Welcome to the Pacific Hepatitis C Network (PHCN)‘s second Hepatitis C News in Review Newsletter. This is where we review all of the major current issues and events around hepatitis C and hep C treatments. It is an email that includes links to our recent blog posts—including links to blog posts about Public Health Agency of Canada funding.

HEALTH CANADA SUMMARY SAFETY REVIEW – DAAs – ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL RISK OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS REACTIVATION

Please click here for more information.

WHAT WOMEN WITH HEPATITIS C EXPERIENCE NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED NOW

“Although our research on the experience of diagnosis was undertaken prior to the present major advances of interferon-free HCV treatment, which have given new hope of speedy and less burdensome treatment, these new treatments alone will not solve the burden of HCV.” (Mitchell, et al. 2016)

Therefore, it is still critical to examine how women with hepatitis C are cared for and then strive to improve that care. The findings of a new study, published in a recent issue of the Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, are interesting and a good start. Click here to read more.

HEPATITIS C ADVOCACY HIGHLIGHTS

Recently the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced that community-based projects that lost funding in the October changes to the HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund‘s Letter of Intent (LOI) funding process will now, on a case-by-case basis, have transitional project funding until March 31, 2018. Click here for more information.

On December 1st, World AIDS Day, the HIV and HCV communities stood together in solidarity with organizations who were denied funding going forward as part of the changes to the PHAC Community Action Fund LOI process. More information about the rally is here.

Daryl Luster was at the World AIDS Day rally and wrote and gave a speech entitled: We Have Not Abandoned the Principles or Communities We Serve, Neither Should PHAC.

In addition, November began with Daryl meeting with BC NDP MLA Shane Simpson. They spoke about the landscape of hepatitis C in BC, local testing shortfalls, and hep C treatments and cures. See a picture here.

HEP C HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE CANADIAN DRUG APPROVAL PIPELINE AND THE LIVER MEETING 2016

The Liver Meeting 2016, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)‘s 67th annual meeting, was held last month. Exciting and important hep C clinical results were presented. Some of these highlights can be found in the following posts:

For more information about the topics in this newsletter, please click on the links, visit PHCN’s Hepatitis C Treatment Information Project, or email us.

Drug Pipeline

Two BC based Clinical Trials Examined at the Liver Meeting

Two BC based Clinical Trials Examined at the Liver MeetingThis post examines two BC based clinical trials BC for hep C treatments that were presented at the Liver Meeting 2016 earlier this month.

Clinical Trial Abstract #60 – Impact of drug use and opioid substitution therapy on hepatitis C reinfection: The BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort by Nazrul Islam, et al.

Summary: This clinical trial identified the risk factors that may lead to hep C reinfection by looking at those tested for the virus in BC between 1990-2013. It looked at data about their medical visits, hospitalizations, and prescription drugs.  Those who were able to clear the virus on their own were included in this study. The study’s results showed that 11.8% of those who cleared the virus on their own were reinfected within the study’s 19 year time period. This rate was higher in this group than in those who had cleared the virus through treatment. However, this group also had a higher proportion of people who recently injected drugs. Using injected drugs made the risk of reinfection higher, where as, using opioid substitution therapy (OST) reduced the hep C reinfection risk. Also, being younger was seen to increase one’s of reinfection risk, as well as, being co-infected with HIV.  Whereas, being female and being infected with hep B lowered one’s chances of reinfection. From these findings, the study concluded that treatment should be combined with harm reduction programs.

Clinical Trial Abstract #175 – The impact of sustained virological response to HCV infection on long term risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: The BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort by Naveed Z. Janjua, et al.

Summary: The risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, after being cured of hep C in North America hasn’t been looked at in depth. This study assessed the effect of sustained virologic response (hep C cure) on the risk of HCC among a large Canadian population base, by examining the same patient database as the above clinical trial. RESULTS: It found that the risk of HCC was higher in those who weren’t cured than those who were (1.1/1000 person-yr(PY) in the SVR group and 7.2/1000 PY in the no-SVR group). It found that the risk of developing HCC was higher in those with liver cirrhosis, who were older, male, had hep C genotype 3 vs 1, and drank alcohol. The HCC incidence post treatment increase was steeper in the no-SVR vs the SVR group, but that SVR (cure) doesn’t eliminate the risk of HCC.

 The Liver Meeting 2016

The Liver Meeting 2016, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)‘s 67th annual meeting, was held November 11th – 15th. Last year’s meeting drew more than 9,500 international hepatologists and hepatology health professionals to San Francisco to discuss the latest treatments and research for liver diseases. This year, Boston, Massachusetts, hosted the meeting and, as always, it was exciting.

More information about The Liver Meeting 2016 or these and other studies can be found in our blog post The Liver Meeting 2016 Hep C Abstract Highlights (Part2) or on the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)’s website.

Drug Pipeline

The Liver Meeting 2016 by Hep C Treatments

The Liver Meeting 2016 by Hep C TreatmentsThis post lists all of the topics around hep C treatments presented at the Liver Meeting 2016 by treatment as well as their abstract numbers so that one can easily browse the titles and look them up in the meeting’s online abstracts list, Plenary and Parallel Sessions (Abstracts 1–258).

Treatment: Glecaprevir / Pibrentasvir

  • #73 – ENDURANCE-2: Safety and Efficacy of ABT-493/ABT-530 in Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 2-infected Patients without Cirrhosis, a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
  • #113 – SURVEYOR-II, Part 3: Efficacy and Safety of ABT-493/ ABT-530 in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 3 Infection with Prior Treatment Experience and/or Cirrhosis
  • #114 – ENDURANCE-4: Efficacy and Safety of ABT-493/ABT- 530 Treatment in Patients with Chronic HCV Genotype 4, 5, or 6 Infection
  • #253 – ENDURANCE-1: Efficacy and Safety of 8- versus 12-week Treatment with ABT-493/ABT-530 in patients with Chronic HCV Genotype 1 Infection

Treatment: Daclatasvir and Asunaprevir

  • #197 – Complex Pattern of Resistance-Associated Substitutions of Hepatitis C Virus after Treatment failure of Interferon-Free Daclatasvir plus Asunaprevir regimen

Treatment: Sovaldi (Sofosbuvir) and Sovaldi Combos (Included Harvoni and Epclusa)

  • #21 – Effectiveness of Sofosbuvir, Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir and Paritaprevir/Ritonavir/Ombitasvir and Dasabuvir-Based Antiviral Regimens for Hepatitis C in 17,847 patients in the Veterans Affairs National Healthcare System
  • #23 – Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir (SOF/VEL)-Based Regimens are Associated with Excellent Efficacy and a Significant Improvement of Patients-Reported Outcomes (PROs) across Patient Populations: From Non-Cirrhotics to Compensated Cirrhotics to Decompensated Cirrhotics
  • #75 – Integrated Analysis of SOF+RBV, LDV/SOF or SOF/VEL for the Treatment of Genotype 4 Chronic HCV Infection
  • #109 – A Randomized, Controlled, Phase 3 Trial of Sofosbuvir/ Velpatasvir/Voxilaprevir or Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir for 12 Weeks in Direct Acting Antiviral-Experienced Patients with Genotype 1-6 HCV Infection: The POLARIS-4 Study
  • #194 – Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir/Voxilaprevir for 12 Weeks as a Salvage Regimen in NS5A Inhibitor-Experienced Patients with Genotype 1-6 Infection: The Phase 3 POLARIS-1 Study
  • #212 – Successful pre- and post liver transplant Sofosbuvir based anti HCV treatment in persons living with HIV infection
  • #213 – Efficacy and safety treating the recurrent hepatitis C post-liver transplantation with simeprevir and sofosbuvir: The Spanish experience (SETH)

Treatment: Zepatier (Grazoprevir/Elbasvir)

  • #74 – C-ISLE: Grazoprevir/Elbasvir plus Sofosbuvir in Treatment- naïve and Treatment-experienced HCV GT3 Cirrhotic Patients Treated for 8, 12 or 16 weeks
  • #76 – Efficacy and Safety of Elbasvir/Grazoprevir in Treatment-Naive Subjects with Chronic HCV GT 1, GT 4 and GT 6 Infection (C-CORAL): A Phase III Randomized Multinational Clinical Trial
  • #110 – Safety and Efficacy of the Fixed-Dose Combination Regimen of MK-3682/Grazoprevir/MK-8408 With or Without Ribavirin in Non-cirrhotic or Cirrhotic Patients with Chronic HCV GT1, 2 or 3 Infection (Part B of C-CREST-1 & 2)
  • #112 – High Sustained Virologic Response (SVR) Rates in Patients with Chronic HCV GT1, 2 or 3 Infection Following 16 Weeks of MK-3682/Grazoprevir/MK-8408 Plus Ribavirin After Failure of 8 Weeks of Therapy (Part C of C-CREST-1 & 2)
  • #193 – Safety and Efficacy of the Fixed-Dose Combination Regimen of MK-3682/Grazoprevir/MK-8408 in Cirrhotic or Non-cirrhotic Patients with Chronic HCV GT1 Infection who Previously Failed a Direct-acting Antiviral Regimen (C-SURGE)

Treatment: Elbasvir

  • #195 – Distinct Evolutionary Pathways of NS5A Inhibitor Resistance in Patients With Genotype 1a Versus 1b Infection During Monotherapy With MK-8742 (Elbasvir)

Treatment: RG-101

  • #111 – RG-101 in Combination with 4 Weeks of Oral Direct Acting Antiviral Therapy Achieves High SVR Rates in Treatment Naïve Genotype 1 and 4 Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

The Liver Meeting 2016

The Liver Meeting 2016, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)‘s 67th annual meeting, was held November 11th – 15th. Last year’s meeting drew more than 9,500 international hepatologists and hepatology health professionals to San Francisco to discuss the latest treatments and research for liver diseases. This year, Boston, Massachusetts, hosted the meeting and, as always, it was exciting.

More information about The Liver Meeting 2016 or these and other studies can be found in our blog post The Liver Meeting 2016 Hep C Abstract Highlights (Part2) or on the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)’s website.

Drug Pipeline

The 2016 Liver Meeting by 2 Attending Blog Writers

2016 Liver Meeting via Attending Blog WritersAttending the Liver Meeting 2016, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)‘s 67th annual meeting, this year are not only researchers and physicians, but also a number of different blog writers.  The below is some of what these writers have been hearing and writing about.

2016 Liver Meeting Highlights being Written about by Two Attending Blog Writers

By Lucinda K. Porter, RN

Summary: A general description of the Liver Meeting 2016. “There were quite a few presentations on fatty liver diseases (FLD) such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). FLDs are rapidly overtaking hepatitis C as the most prevalent liver threat.”

Summary: A post about two of Porter’s favorite conference posters, Abstract #868 Safety and Tolerability of Direct Acting Antiviral Agents (DAAs) Used in Usual Clinical Practice: HCV-TARGET International Consortium, by Michael W. Fried, et al., and Abstract #911 Alcohol Use and Hepatitis C Virus Treatment Outcomes Among 15,151 Patients Receiving Direct Antiviral Agents, by Judith Tsui, et al. Editorial comments included.

Summary: A post highlighting Abstract # LB-15 Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir Demonstrates High SVR Rates in Patients With HCV Genotype 2, 4, 5, or 6 Infection Without Cirrhosis Following an 8-Week Treatment Duration(SURVEYOR-II, Part 4), by Tarek Hassanein, et al., and Abstract #831 Hepatitis C (HCV) Virologic Outcomes in Veterans Taking Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir With Concomitant Acid Suppressing Medication – Austin Chan, et al. Editorial comments included.

By HIVandHepatitis.com

Summary: The hep C treatment Zepatier (grazoprevir/elbasvir) and Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) without ribavirin cured 96% of previously untreated and 97% of treatment-experienced people with hep C genotype 3 and liver cirrhosis, matching rates seen in easier-to-treat patient groups.

Summary: Direct-acting antiviral treatments have real-world rates similarly found in clinical trials, without major differences between treatment regimens.

Summary: Being cured of hepatitis C with direct-acting antiviral treatment doesn’t increase one’s risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and may reduce it. (Canadian Study)

More information about the Liver Meeting or information about these and other studies can be found in our blog post The Liver Meeting 2016 Hep C Abstract Highlights (Part1), on the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)’s website, or by clicking the links listed above.

Advocacy

The Pacific Hepatitis C Network‘s News in Review Newsletter

The Pacific Hepatitis C Network‘s News in Review NewsletterWelcome to the Pacific Hepatitis C Network (PHCN)‘s very first hepatitis C news in review newsletter. This is where we review all of the major issues and events around hepatitis C and hep C treatments. It is an email that includes links to all of our recent blog posts—including the blog post about the big news surrounding the hep C treatment Epclusa (generic name: sofosbuvir/velpatasvir).

EPCLUSA RECOMMENDED BY CADTH

Epclusa (generic name: sofosbuvir/velpatasvir), developed by Gilead Sciences Canada, Inc., just passed its Common Drug Review with the release of the Canadian Drug Expert Committee (CDEC) Final Recommendation. Click here to read more about their recommendation sent to the provinces and territories to help them decide on whether or not to cover the treatment and how to cover it.

HEPATITIS C ADVOCACY HIGHLIGHTS

In October, Daryl Luster wrote two blog posts for the Pacific Hepatitis C Network. Daryl is a hep C advocate who is PHCN’s president, a member of the Executive Steering Committee for Action Hepatitis Canada (AHC), a counselor for the Help-4-Hep helpline, and the administrator of multiple peer support groups. In 2010, Daryl was cured of hep C while participating in a clinical trial. The two blog posts he wrote were:

• DAAs: Long Term Effects
• AHC BC Regional Meeting: October 18-19

HEP C ABSTRACT HIGHLIGHTS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE LIVER MEETING 2016

The Liver Meeting 2016, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)‘s 67th annual meeting, will be held in a week. Last year’s meeting drew more than 9,500 international hepatologists and hepatology health professionals to San Francisco to discuss the latest treatments and research for liver diseases. This year, Boston, Massachusetts, will be hosting the meeting and, as always, the meeting promises to be exciting.

To celebrate the meeting and all of the amazing discoveries that will be presented, the Hepatitis C Treatment Information Project wrote the following blog posts summarizing and highlighting some of what will be presented about hep C treatments:

• The Liver Meeting 2016 Hep C Abstract Highlights (Part1)
• The Liver Meeting 2016 Hep C Abstract Highlights (Part2)
• Live Stream Sessions from The Liver Meeting 2016

THE BASICS SERIES

The Basics Series by the Hepatitis C Treatment Information Project is a series of blog posts about the very basics about hep C and hep C treatments. So far, the series has five issues, entitled the following:

For more information about the topics in this newsletter, please click on the links, visit PHCN’s Hepatitis C Treatment Information Project, or email us.

Drug Pipeline

Live Stream Sessions from The Liver Meeting 2016

Three Live Stream Sessions from The Liver Meeting 2016Three Live Stream Sessions on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 @ 11:30 am to 1:00 pm ET (8:30 am to 10 am PT)

Can’t make it to The Liver Meeting this year? Get the latest updates on hepatitis treatment and clinical hepatology from the meeting in Boston, from your home or office.

The live stream for The Liver Meeting sessions below can be viewed via the LiverLearning® website or the LiverLearning® app for Android and iOS devices. You must register in order to watch the live stream on Tuesday, November 15. There is no charge for registration.

Three Live Stream Sessions

Hepatitis Debrief
11:30 am -12:00 pm ET
Speaker: Robert S. Brown, MD, MPH, FAASLD

This session provides a synthesis of new data on the treatment of viral hepatitis presented at The Liver Meeting.

Schiff State-of-the-Art Lecture
12:00 pm -12:30 pm ET
Speaker: Anna S. Lok, MD, FAASLD

This lecture will provide a vision for the global elimination of hepatitis B and strategies to reach that goal by examining the burden of hepatitis B infection and the disparity in prevalence across different parts of the world. Programs preventing hepatitis B infection, available treatment options in chronic hepatitis B, their limitations and novel therapies will also be discussed.

Clinical Hepatology Debrief
12:30 pm -1:00 pm ET
Speaker: Arun J. Sanyal, MD, FAASLD

This newly added session is designed to complement the highly-regarded, Hepatitis Debrief, and will review key clinical highlights from the meeting.

Access the Live Stream Sessions after The Liver Meeting

In addition to watching the sessions live on Tuesday, November 15, as a registered attendee of the live stream you can access the session recording on demand through December 31, 2016. AASLD members have access to content on LiverLearning® all year round.

The Liver Meeting 2016

The Liver Meeting 2016, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)‘s 67th annual meeting, will be held November 11th to the 15th. Last year’s meeting drew more than 9,500 international hepatologists and hepatology health professionals to San Francisco to discuss the latest treatments and research for liver diseases. This year, Boston, Massachusetts, will be hosting the meeting and, as always, the meeting promises to be exciting.

—

*The content of this blog post was taken from AASLD’s http://www.aasld.org/events-professional-development/live-stream-sessions

Drug Pipeline

The Liver Meeting 2016 Hep C Abstract Highlights (Part2)

Liver Meeting 2016 Hep C Abstract HighlightsThe Liver Meeting 2016, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)‘s 67th annual meeting, will be held November 11th to the 15th. Last year’s meeting drew more than 9,500 international hepatologists and hepatology health professionals to San Francisco to discuss the latest treatments and research for liver diseases. This year, Boston, Massachusetts, will be hosting the meeting and, as always, the meeting promises to be exciting.

Hep C Abstract Highlights to be Presented at The Liver Meeting 2016 (Part 2)

  • Eight weeks treatment duration with Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) is effective for appropriately selected patients with genotype 1 Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection: an analysis of multiple real world cohorts totaling >6,500 patients, by Vinay Sundaram, et al. (LB-16)

Summary: Current studies are limited by lack of uniform data regarding fibrosis stage or risk factors for relapse when it comes to 8 weeks of treatments with LDV/SOF (Harvoni).  Looking at past records, the research team determined the effectiveness of 8 weeks of treatment (SVR rates >95% in selected patients), examined variables associated with relapse, and compared the efficacy of 8 weeks with 12 weeks of therapy.  The results were in the 90s for those >65 years, HIV co-infected, Caucasian and African-American, fibrosis stages of 0-3, and genotype 1a and 1b.

  • Hepatitis B Reactivation Associated with Direct Acting Antiviral Therapy for Hepatitis C: A Review of Spontaneous Post-Marketing Cases, by Susan J. Bersoff-Matcha, et al. (LB-17)

Summary: There have been recent published cases of hepatitis B virus reactivation (HBV-R) in patients with HCV/HBV coinfection. Before DAAs, this is often seen with immunosuppression, although, DAAs don’t suppress immune response. Therefore, the purpose of this evaluation was to assess spontaneous reports of HBV-R with DAA treatment. The conclusion was that it does happen and that further study is needed into the reasons for it and how to stop it from occurring.

  • Retreatment with sofosbuvir + grazoprevir + elbasvir + ribavirin of patients with Hepatitis C virus Genotype 1 or 4 with RASs at failure of a sofosbuvir + ledipasvir or + daclatasvir or + simeprevir regimen (ANRS HC34 REVENGE study), by Victor de Ledinghen, et al. (LB-18)

Summary: The best treatment regimen for such patients who have already tried but failed treatment is still unknown. This study evaluated sofosbuvir + grazoprevir + elbasvir + ribavirin, taken for 16 weeks vs 24 wks in patients with NS5A or NS3 resistance-associated substitutions (RASs), when treatment failed. SVR4 was achieved by 16/17 patients. The finding suggested that “…retreating patients who failed a DAA-based regimen with NS5A/NS3 RASs with the combination of SOF + GZR + EBV + RBV for 16 weeks is efficacious and represent an interesting option. Safety will need to be monitored cautiously for this combination.”

  • Reduction in Liver Transplant Wait-Listing in the Era of Direct Acting Anti-Viral Therapy, by Jennifer A. Flemming, et al. (LB-23)

Summary: The study analyzed trends in liver transplant wait-lists to explore the potential impact of effective medical therapy on wait-list registration. The findings found that wait-lists have reminded the same for those with hep B but the number of those waiting for livers due to hep C has decreased by over 30% in the era of DAA therapy. Further reductions of wait-lists may result from increased testing, linkage to care, and access to DAA treatment.

More information about this meeting or these and other studies can be found in our blog post The Liver Meeting 2016 Hep C Abstract Highlights (Part1) or on the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)’s website.