History is being made with the new FDA Approved Hepatitus C - Genotype 1 treatment: Ledipasir-Sofosbuvir, otherwise known as Harvoni. The new antiviral drug is a single pill, once daily dose that has up to a 99% cure rate!
Duration of treatment varies due to the amount of liver damage and past treatment experience.
Treatment naïve with or without cirrhosis 12 weeks
Treatment experienced** without cirrhosis 12 weeks
Treatment experienced** with cirrhosis 24 weeks
*Consider treatment duration of 8weeks in treatment-naïve patients without cirrhosis who have a pretreatment HCV RNA less than 6 million IU/mL
**Treatment-experienced patients who have failed treatment with either (a) peginterferon alfa plus ribavirin or (b) HCV protease inhibitor plus peginterferon alfa plus ribavirin
Source: Harvoni Prescribing Information. Gilead Sciences
There are some side effects, but none of them appear to be serious: Fatigue, Headache, Nausea, Diarrhea, & Insomnia.
Source: Harvoni Prescribing Information. Gilead Sciences
You can read the full article here: Ledipasvir-Sofobuvir (Harvoni)
This is a major breakthrough for the many people that are infected with Hepatitus C - Genotype 1, which happens to be the hardest hepatitus to cure.
Cures rates are as follows:
Among the 440 patients who underwent randomization and were treated, 20% had cirrhosis and 79% had HCV genotype 1a infection. The rates of sustained virology response were high, 94% in all treatment groups:
12 weeks of ledipasvir–sofosbuvir = 96%
12 weeks of ledipasvir–sofosbuvir and ribavirin = 99%
24 weeks of ledipasvir–sofosbuvir = 99%
24 weeks of ledipasvir–sofosbuvir and ribavirin = 99%
Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir for Previously Treated HCV Genotype 1 Infection
I hope and pray that this is the antiviral medication that will cure my Hepatitus C, type 1a. I will be starting treatment in a couple of weeks!
