Telaprevir and peginterferon with or without ribavirin for chronic HCV infection

N Engl J Med. 2009 Apr 30;360(18):1839-50. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0807650.

Abstract

Background: In patients with chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1, treatment with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for 48 weeks results in rates of sustained virologic response of 40 to 50%. Telaprevir is a specific inhibitor of the HCV serine protease and could be of value in HCV treatment.

Methods: A total of 334 patients who had chronic infection with HCV genotype 1 and had not been treated previously were randomly assigned to receive one of four treatments involving various combinations of telaprevir (1250 mg on day 1, then 750 mg every 8 hours), peginterferon alfa-2a (180 microg weekly), and ribavirin (dose according to body weight). The T12PR24 group (81 patients) received telaprevir, peginterferon alfa-2a, and ribavirin for 12 weeks, followed by peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin for 12 more weeks. The T12PR12 group (82 patients) received telaprevir, peginterferon alfa-2a, and ribavirin for 12 weeks. The T12P12 group (78 patients) received telaprevir and peginterferon alfa-2a without ribavirin for 12 weeks. The PR48 (control) group (82 patients) received peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin for 48 weeks. The primary end point, a sustained virologic response (an undetectable HCV RNA level 24 weeks after the end of therapy), was compared between the control group and the combined T12P12 and T12PR12 groups.

Results: The rate of sustained virologic response for the T12PR12 and T12P12 groups combined was 48% (77 of 160 patients), as compared with 46% (38 of 82) in the PR48 (control) group (P=0.89). The rate was 60% (49 of 82 patients) in the T12PR12 group (P=0.12 for the comparison with the PR48 group), as compared with 36% (28 of 78 patients) in the T12P12 group (P=0.003; P=0.20 for the comparison with the PR48 group). The rate was significantly higher in the T12PR24 group (69% [56 of 81 patients]) than in the PR48 group (P=0.004). The adverse events with increased frequency in the telaprevir-based groups were pruritus, rash, and anemia.

Conclusions: In this phase 2 study of patients infected with HCV genotype 1 who had not been treated previously, one of the three telaprevir groups had a significantly higher rate of sustained virologic response than that with standard therapy. Response rates were lowest with the regimen that did not include ribavirin. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00372385.)

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Hepacivirus / genetics*
  • Hepacivirus / isolation & purification
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / virology
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oligopeptides / adverse effects
  • Oligopeptides / therapeutic use*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / adverse effects
  • Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use*
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Recurrence
  • Ribavirin / adverse effects
  • Ribavirin / therapeutic use*
  • Viral Load
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Oligopeptides
  • RNA, Viral
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • telaprevir
  • peginterferon alfa-2a

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00372385