Hepatitis C is a contagious and potentially life-threatening viral infection that affects the liver. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 71 million people globally are living with chronic hepatitis C infection.

In the US alone, around 3.5 million people are infected with hepatitis C. AbbVie is a leading pharmaceutical company that is committed to improving the lives of people affected by hepatitis C. In this article, we will discuss AbbVie’s new approach to beating hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that primarily affects the liver. It can cause liver inflammation, which can lead to liver damage, liver failure, and even liver cancer. The virus is spread through contact with infected blood.

This can happen through sharing needles or other injection equipment, receiving a blood transfusion, or organ transplant from an infected donor. It can also be spread through sexual contact with an infected person.

Treatment of Hepatitis C

The treatment of hepatitis C has evolved over the years. In the past, treatment involved the use of interferon and ribavirin, which had significant side effects and limited efficacy.

However, in recent years, new drugs have been developed that are more effective and less toxic. These drugs are called direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and work by targeting specific proteins and enzymes that are essential for the replication of the hepatitis C virus.

AbbVie’s Approach

AbbVie is committed to developing innovative therapies to help people with hepatitis C. Their approach involves a combination of two DAAs, glecaprevir, and pibrentasvir. This combination therapy is marketed under the brand name Mavyret.

Mavyret is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of all genotypes of hepatitis C in adults.

Mavyret’s Efficacy

A clinical trial conducted by AbbVie showed that Mavyret was highly effective in curing hepatitis C. The trial involved 2,300 patients with chronic hepatitis C. The patients were given either Mavyret or another DAA called sofosbuvir-velpatasvir.

The results showed that 98% of patients who received Mavyret were cured of hepatitis C after eight weeks of treatment. The cure rate was 92% in patients who received sofosbuvir-velpatasvir.

Mavyret’s Safety

Mavyret was also found to be safe and well-tolerated in clinical trials. The most common side effects reported were headache and fatigue. These side effects were mild to moderate in severity and did not lead to discontinuation of treatment.

Mavyret is not recommended for patients with severe liver disease or kidney disease.

Mavyret’s Cost

One of the challenges of treating hepatitis C is the high cost of the drugs. However, AbbVie has taken steps to make Mavyret more affordable. The wholesale acquisition cost of Mavyret is $26,400 for an eight-week course of treatment.

This is significantly lower than the cost of other DAAs on the market.

Conclusion

Hepatitis C is a serious health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. AbbVie’s new approach to beating hepatitis C with Mavyret has shown excellent results in clinical trials.

Mavyret’s combination of two DAAs has proven to be highly effective in curing all genotypes of hepatitis C in adults. Additionally, Mavyret was found to be safe and well-tolerated, with minimal side effects. The cost of Mavyret is also significantly lower than other drugs on the market, making it more accessible to patients who need it.

AbbVie’s commitment to improving the lives of people affected by hepatitis C is commendable, and we look forward to more breakthroughs from them in the future.