Efficacy of telaprevir-based therapy for difficult-to-treat patients with genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C in Japan

• Published in: Hepatology research Vol. 45; no. 7; pp. 745 - 754
• Main Authors: Kumada, Hiromitsu, Sato, Ken, Takehara, Tetsuo, Nakamuta, Makoto, Ishigami, Masatoshi, Chayama, Kazuaki, Toyota, Joji, Suzuki, Fumitaka, Nakayasu, Yoshiyuki, Ochi, Miyoko, Yamada, Ichimaro, Okanoue, Takeshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2015
• Subjects: genotype 2; peginterferon; ribavirin; sustained virological response; telaprevir; treatment failure; ribavirin; genotype 2; telaprevir; treatment failure; sustained virological response; peginterferon
• ISSN: 1386-6346; 1872-034X
• DOI: 10.1111/hepr.12416

Aim This study assessed the efficacy and safety of telaprevir in combination with peginterferon‐α‐2b (PEG IFN) and ribavirin (RBV), for Japanese difficult‐to‐treat patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 who had not achieved sustained virological response (SVR) during prior treatment. Methods In total, 108 relapsed (median age, 59.0 years) and 10 non‐responding (median age, 59.0 years) patients with genotype 2 HCV participated. Patients received telaprevir (750 mg, every 8 h) for 12 weeks and PEG IFN/RBV for 24 weeks. Results The SVR rates for relapsers and non‐responders were 88.0% (95/108) and 50.0% (5/10), respectively. The SVR rates did not differ significantly between patients with rs8099917 TT and non‐TT. The SVR rates for relapsers and non‐responders with extended rapid viral response (eRVR) were 97.6% (82/84) and 100% (5/5), respectively. On the other hand, the SVR rates for relapsers and non‐responders completing the treatment protocol were 98.4% (61/62) and 100% (5/5), respectively. The overall safety profiles of telaprevir‐based regimens were similar for Japanese patients with genotype 1 and 2 HCV infection who experienced treatment failure. Conclusion Telaprevir, in combination with PEG IFN/RBV, provided a high SVR rate for genotype 2 HCV, difficult‐to‐treat patients who had not achieved SVR during prior IFN‐based treatment. The eRVR had a strong influence on the cure rate of telaprevir‐based therapy. In addition, the continuation of telaprevir‐based treatment for up to 24 weeks was a significant predictor of SVR.