Investigational DAA treatment combination effective and improves patient-reported outcomes

Analysis of patient outcome data from the POLARIS-1, 2, 3 and 4 studies presented today demonstrate that patients with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and cirrhosis experience the greatest improvement of patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores when taking treatment with sofosbuvir (SOF) + velpatasvir (VEL), with or without voxilaprevir (VOX), an anti-HCV regimen that has been shown to be safe and effective against all HCV genotypes in different populations. The analysis of the four studies, presented at The International Liver Congress 2017 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, showed that achievement of sustained virologic response at 12 weeks (SVR12) was associated with significant improvements in PROs, which were more prominent in patients with cirrhosis than those without.

Hepatitis C is one of the most widespread transmissible diseases.1 HCV is a leading cause of chronic liver disease, end-stage cirrhosis and liver cancer.2 It is estimated to infect over 185 million people worldwide, of whom 350,000 die each year, with 84,000 of those being in Europe.3 In Europe, liver cirrhosis is responsible for 1-2% of all deaths,4 and was the leading cause of adult liver transplants between 1988 and 2013.5 Until the approval of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs, HCV was treated with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin, which caused serious adverse effects in many patients, often leading to premature termination of therapy.1 DAAs have revolutionised treatment, as they are well tolerated and highly efficacious.6

"This analysis showed that although patients with HCV and cirrhosis have significantly impaired patient-reported outcomes, they experience the greatest improvement during treatment with SOF/VEL with or without VOX, when compared to those without cirrhosis," said Dr Zobair Younossi, Center for Liver Diseases, Washington, United States, and lead author of the study. "We also found that achieving a sustained virologic response with the drugs was associated with substantial gains in outcomes."

This analysis combined data from 1,908 patients with chronic HCV who were enrolled in four Phase 3 studies (POLARIS 1 to 4) that assessed the efficacy and safety of SOF/VEL/VOX in the treatment of HCV-infected patients. Outcomes from 26 PRO domain scores relating to quality of life, fatigue, work productivity and activity impairment were assessed using questionnaires.

The overall cure rate (SVR12) was 94% for patients with and without cirrhosis in both the SOF/VEL/VOX and SOF/VEL treatment groups. Patients with cirrhosis experienced significant improvements in their PRO scores compared to the start of treatment, which were similar or greater than those in patients without cirrhosis. Individuals with cirrhosis treated with placebo did not have any PRO improvements.

"Successful treatment of HCV-related cirrhosis with DAA therapy improves patient-reported outcomes, and this will certainly impact not only the direct but also the significant indirect costs linked to this progressive disease," said Prof Francesco Negro, Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of Clinical Pathology, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland and EASL Governing Board Member.