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Gilead's New Hepatitis C Drug, Sovaldi (Sofosbuvir) approved
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iana5252:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Gilead Sciences’ hotly anticipated Sovaldi (sofosbuvir), a once-daily oral nucleotide analog polymerase inhibitor to treat people with hepatitis C virus (HCV), including those coinfected with HIV and those who have liver cancer and are awaiting a transplant. For those with genotypes 2 and 3 of the virus, Sovaldi offers the first-ever opportunity for treatment with an interferon-free drug regimen. Those with genotypes 1 and 4, however, will in most cases still require the injectable interferon, which causes flu-like side effects.
Sovaldi must be taken in combination with ribavirin regardless of genotype. The recommended treatment duration is 12 weeks for genotypes 1, 2 and 4, and 24 weeks for genotype 3.
Gilead also states that those with genotype 1 who are ineligible to take interferon "can be considered" to receive Sovaldi and ribavirin for 24 weeks of treatment. Also, for those awaiting a liver transplant, the same combination should be given for up to 48 weeks before transplantation to prevent post-transplant infection with the virus.
jberlin:
The best news of all is the reduction of treatment times! 12 weeks of interferon for geno 1 is much better than 24 or 48 weeks! And no interferon for Geno 2. It seems the side effects are much more tolerable than the Incivek treatment. I wonder if the cure rates will measure up, I hope so. This is great news, and it looks like there is even more coming in 2014. -jack