RECENT RESEARCH BY SIR GANGA RAM HOSPITAL ,DEPARTMENT OF GASTROENTROLOGY HEADED BY DR. ANIL ARORA CONFIRMS THAT “DIRECT -ACTING ANTIVIRAL AGENTS ARE BOON FOR THE TREATMENT OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION
Recently approved “direct-acting antiviral agents” are boon for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection
A recently conducted study by researchers from Department of Gastroenterology , Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on 777 patients of Hepatitis- C from 2008 to 2014 and is being presented in International Liver Congress at Vienna , Austria found that the currently available treatment regimen in India for Hepatitis –C had many limitations .(full text of study attached )
The objective of the study was to find out the cure rate (Sustained Viral Response ) for Hepatitis – C Virus (HCV) by currently available treatment regimen in India . The currently available treatment therapy for HCV in India is combination of two medicines , Injection peginterferon + Tablet Ribavirin .
The long term use of these oral and injectable medications , has substantial side-effects including dip in haemoglobin , low platelet count , fever , bone marrow depression and even deterioration of pre-existing liver disease . Hence , a cure of Hepatitis –C referred in medical terminology as Sustained Virological Response (SVR) could not be achieved in many patients .
The limitations faced in the study were as under : (pie chart attached)
Total Number of HCV patients enrolled – 100% (777 patients)
Eligible for existing Therapy – 45 %
Received Therapy – 24 %
Completed Therapy – 20 %
Cured of HCV –
According to Dr Anil Arora , Chairperson , Department of Gastroenterology , & author of the study , Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, “ Our study found that a large proportion of the patients are either unfit or not able to complete the full course of therapy due to advanced liver disease , high cost and substantial side effects . This is in accordance with similar studies published in India and abroad .”
Now , there is a ray of hope for these large number of the patients who in India were left out and not treated by existing therapy .
About 2 years back , a new group of drugs called direct – acting antiviral agents (DAA) for treatment of Hepatitis –C patients had taken the world by surprise . The FDA approved these drugs in December 2013 which have more than 95-100 % cure rates and can even be given in advanced stage of disease . But the problem was that these directly acting anti-viral agents were not available in India . There import cost was exorbitant ( Rs 60,000 per tablet to be given daily for 3 to 6 months) and was unaffordable by most patients in India .
There is good news for Indian patients . This new drug called Sofosbuvir has now received approval by Drug Controller General of India( DCGI) in January 2015 and has been launched in the Indian market in mid March . The best thing is that the cost of this therapy in Indian market due to generic version is also affordable . ( Rs 500 per tablet per day for a period of 3 to 6 months) .
“We are very happy that a large segment of our patients in the study who were left out with a cure of Hepatitis –C , can now be cured by this Direct Acting Oral Anti Viral Drugs . Already , many patients of advanced liver disease due to Heaptitis –C in our hospital have been put on this therapy ”added Dr Arora .
The advantages of this new therapy are
a) It can be given at any stage of HCV disease
b) It is almost 100 % effective
c) Its cost is very less compared to existing therapy
d) Shorter duration of therapy is required
e) It is in form of tablets (unlike peginterferon which is injectable)
Hepatitis C virus infection is a major cause of liver disease worldwide . It causes cirrhosis of liver and liver cancer and is responsible for millions of deaths worldwide . In India , the estimated prevalence of HCV is between 0.5 and 1.5 % . This means , more than 12.5 million people population is infected by HCV in India . In most patients HCV is detected very late when the disease has already advanced to the stage of permanent liver damage (cirrhosis) or liver cancer . These patients are going to be benefitted most by these drugs .
“With the launch of this therapy in India , we hope more and more patients of HCV will be benefitted” said Dr Arora .
Dr Anil Arora , Chairperson , Department of Gastroenterology , & author of the study , Sir Ganga Ram Hospital , Mobile : 9811047385 or 9311638779
In the past, hepatitis C treatment involved long-term use of oral and injectable medications, some of which had unpleasant side effects, including flu-like symptoms and depression. Because of the complexity of these regimens, hepatitis C treatment has largely been provided by specialist physicians, such as infectious disease specialists and hepatologists. New oral direct-acting antiviral drugs may offer more effective, shorter-duration, curative treatments. In October 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new, once-daily antiviral drug for treatment of hepatitis C infection that combines ledipasvir and sofosbuvir (trade name Harvoni). Gilead Sciences, based in Foster City, California, manufactures the drug and is providing it free-of-charge for use in the ASCEND study.In the past, hepatitis C treatment involved long-term use of oral and injectable medications, some of which had unpleasant side effects, including flu-like symptoms and depression. Because of the complexity of these regimens, hepatitis C treatment has largely been provided by specialist physicians, such as infectious disease specialists and hepatologists. New oral direct-acting antiviral drugs may offer more effective, shorter-duration, curative treatments. In October 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new, once-daily antiviral drug for treatment of hepatitis C infection that combines ledipasvir and sofosbuvir (trade name Harvoni).
Related Study Link Below:
Pyramid of study link below:
