AbbVie, a research-based biopharmaceutical company, has recently announced significant breakthroughs in its treatment for hepatitis C.

The company has tested an investigational, pan-genotypic regimen that would help to eradicate the illness among people with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

The study details

The study was conducted on 332 HCV patients who hadn’t received prior treatment. They included patients with genotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

To find effective treatment for all types of HCV, AbbVie conducted the study with a thread of therapeutic options that depend on a patient’s genotype. However, with the new findings, AbbVie’s regimen has demonstrated a consistent efficacy rate in patients with all genotypes:.

99% cure ratio among patients in 8 weeks without cirrhosis
97% cure ratio among patients in 12 weeks without cirrhosis
100% cure ratio among patients in 8 and 12 weeks with compensated cirrhosis

The current state of hepatitis C treatment

The current pan-genotypic therapy regimens available in the market are primarily for HCV patients with compensated cirrhosis or no cirrhosis. These regimens are available to patients under treatment for longer periods of time, typically twelve weeks.

However, AbbVie’s new regimen is promising as it serves as a potential alternative to longer treatment periods, without risking the efficacy of the medication in the patient.

AbbVie’s statement

AbbVie’s HCV therapeutic portfolio has made significant progress in recent years, but this latest study marks a significant step towards our goal of eliminating hepatitis C globally.

In a statement announcing the findings, AbbVie’s Senior Vice President said: “At AbbVie, the goal is to deliver innovative medicines that promote clinical excellence to improve the lives of millions of people who suffer from hepatitis C. This pan-genotypic regimen is a major advancement that can completely change the current treatment landscape and bring us closer to our goal.”.

The efficacy of AbbVie’s regimen

In the recent study, the patients were divided into three groups for the HCV treatment:.

Genotypes 1-6 without cirrhosis or previously treated
Genotypes 1-6 with compensated cirrhosis without decompensation or previously treated
Genotypes 1-6 with decompensated cirrhosis or with known and stable liver transplant recipients

Each group received AbbVie’s investigational drugs glecaprevir and pibrentasvir. Twelve weeks of treatment resulted in SVR12, which is the clinical endpoint defined as undetectable HCV RNA testing 12 weeks after the end of treatment.

All patients in the first two groups had a high percent of cure ratio, with patients in the third group demonstrating a 97 percent efficacy rate.

The benefits of AbbVie’s regimen over traditional treatment options

The primary benefit of AbbVie’s regimen is its consistent high efficacy ratio in all types of HCV genotypes and stages of liver diseases.

This regimen would provide a potential alternative to traditional HCV therapy treatments, which can last up to 24 weeks and can leave many patients struggling to comply with medication schedules. Traditionally, treatment options come with multiple pills, each needing to be taken during different times of day, which could decrease a patient’s adherence to the regimen.

AbbVie’s regimen, however, only requires patients to take three pills a day, making it easier for the patients to take their medication on a schedule and improve medication adherence.

The side effects are also considered mild, which involves headaches and fatigue.

Conclusion

AbbVie’s investigational drugs glecaprevir and pibrentasvir offer a significant breakthrough in the fight against hepatitis C, and more specifically in how to create effective treatments that can work across all types of HCV.

This new regimen would be a significant advancement towards curing chronic HCV infections worldwide. With the high level efficacy rate in all types of HCV genotypes, the regimen would make it easier for patients to comply to a short-term treatment without the need to adjust the medication according to the genotype of the HCV.

This gives patients who have difficulty adhering to traditional treatment option regimens a better chance of curing the illness and regaining their health.