Difficult-to-Treat Patient Populations Respond Positively to Hepatitis C Treatment
Presentation: Sunday, November 1, 2009, 4:45 pm Eastern Time in Boston, MA
ALEXANDRIA, Va., and BOSTON, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The final
results of the PROVE3 study will be presented at this year's annual
meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver
Diseases. This phase 2 study was of telaprevir compared to a
combination therapy of peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin. It
intended to measure the 6 month and also 1-year durability of
sustained viral response in genotype 1 patients with HCV who failed
prior treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.
According to John McHutchison, MD, principal investigator for
this study, "This was the first large scale study performed in
nonresponders to our current standard of care, which evaluated
retreating these patients with the addition of an HCV-specific
protease inhibitor. Its importance is, therefore, the proof of
principle that adding this potent direct anti-viral allowed us to
cure approximately 50 percent of this patient population who have
failed therapy and for which no other options currently
exists."
The study included 453 patients, and the SVR rates in all
treatment groups who received the telaprevir-based therapy were
significantly higher than those who received peginterferon alfa-2a
and ribavirin. All patients who received telaprevir and achieved
virologic response maintained it for 48 weeks after the end of the
treatment.
The drug in this nonresponder setting is currently undergoing
phase 3 large-scale registration trials to confirm and further
elucidate the findings of this current phase 2 study. "To sit
across the desk from our hepatitis C patients and tell those that
have not responded that with this retreatment strategy they have a
50 percent chance of being cured will be a huge message for
patients and providers if confirmed in larger phase 3 clinical
trials," concluded Dr. McHutchison.
Abstract title:
PROVE3 final results and 1-year durability of SVR with
Telaprevir-based regimen in hepatitis C genotype 1-infected
patients with prior nonresponse, viral breakthrough or relapse to
Peginterferon-alfa-2a/b and Ribavirin therapy
About AASLD
AASLD is the leading medical society focused solely on advancing
the science and practice of hepatology and represents more than
3,300 practitioners, researchers, and allied health professionals
worldwide. Founded by physicians in 1950, AASLD has upheld the
standards of the profession and fostered research that generates
treatment options for the millions of patients with liver
diseases.
This year's Liver Meeting, held in Boston, Massachusetts,
October 30 - November 3, will bring together more than 7,000
researchers from 55 countries. A pressroom will be available from
October 31 at the annual meeting. For copies of abstracts and press
releases, or to arrange for pre-conference research interviews
contact Gregory Bologna at 703-299-9766. To pre-register, call Ann
Tracy at 703-299-9766.
Press releases, additional information for the media, and all
abstracts are available at www.aasld.org.
Press Room: October 31 - November 3, 2009 Hynes Convention Center, Room 209 Telephone: 617-954-2827
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Source: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)
CONTACT: Media: Gregory Bologna, +1-703-299-9766, gbologna@aasld.org,
Researcher: John McHutchison, MD, MCHUT001@mc.duke.edu,
+1-919-668-7177
Web Site: http://www.aasld.org/
Posted: October 2009
