Cost Savings in Hepatitis C Treatment Highlighted by Recent Study
Overview of Hepatitis C
A recent study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases in San Francisco discussed significant cost savings related to hepatitis C treatment. Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which spreads through infected blood and can lead to liver damage, liver failure, and liver cancer. Currently, approximately 70 million people globally are infected with HCV.
Treatment Options and Challenges
Direct-acting anti-virals (DAA) are commonly used to treat or cure hepatitis C. These medications boast a cure rate exceeding 90% with minimal side effects. However, their high costs restrict access to many patients.
Study Findings on Treatment Duration
The study revealed preliminary data indicating that for 50% of patients, the standard 12-week treatment regimen could be reduced to just six weeks without compromising efficacy. The findings were shared during the annual meeting held from November 9-13, 2018.
Patient Outcomes
So far, 22 patients have participated in the study, with 21 remaining free from HCV following the shortened treatment. The only exception was a patient with a difficult-to-treat strain known as genotype 3.
Personalized Medicine Approach
Researchers employed a personalized medicine approach called modelling-based response-guided therapy to reduce treatment times when feasible. This method has shown that shorter treatment durations are achievable without sacrificing the effectiveness of the medications, potentially yielding cost savings of up to 20%.
Next Steps in Research
To validate these promising results, a large multi-center trial is currently underway in Israel.
Author Information
Written by Jade Marie Evans, MPharm, Medical Writer.
Reference
Eurekalert. 2018. Hepatitis C treatment can be shortened in 50 percent of patients, study finds. [Online]. [21 November 2018]. Available from: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/luhs-hct110618.php