Sofosbuvir, velpatasvir, and voxilaprevir for patients with failure of previous direct-acting antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C: Results from the German Hepatitis C-Registry (DHC-R)

Retreatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C, subtype 3a, and cirrhosis, who previously failed a regimen containing second-generation NS5A inhibitors with sofosbuvir + glecaprevir/pibrentasvir and ribavirin for 16-24 weeks

The outcomes of retreatment patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 3, cirrhosis, with velpatasvir may be affected by treatment failure with velpatasvir. The efficacy of SOF+GLE/PIB+RIB 16-24 weeks of treatment has been shown. The presence of NS5A resistance-associated substitution mutations, including Y93H, and the number and regimens of the past failed therapy do not influence the likelihood of achieving sustained virological response. When velpatasvir treatment fails, pibrentasvir should be used as the first choice for retreatment.

A systematic review of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir in HCV patients previously treated with direct-acting antivirals

The importance of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir (SOF/VEL/VOX) remains crucial in managing chronic HCV infection among patients who have experienced treatment failure and relapse after prior use of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), as evidenced by high SVR12. However, limited real-world data exists on safety and efficacy. Therefore, the study’s goal was to conduct a qualitative systematic review to assess SOF/VEL/VOX’s effectiveness and safety. Thorough searches spanned PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, from 2015 to August 1st, 2023. The outcomes assessed were SVR12 and treatment-related adverse events (AEs). We identified and analyzed 12 studies in which SVR12 of the per-protocol (PP) population was 96.7% and of the intention-to-treat (ITT) population was 92.6% showing excellent efficacy of SOF/VEL/VOX. SVR12 rates notably differed among patients: those without GT3 infection (94.20%) and without cirrhosis (97.60%) experienced higher rates compared to patients having GT3 infection (87.40%) and cirrhotic patients (94.20%). Treatment-related AEs were also recorded. To summarize, our study presents evidence that SOF/VEL/VOX serves as an extremely safe and efficacious therapy for HCV-infected patients, previously treated with DAAs.

Revolutionizing hepatitis C treatment: next-gen direct-acting antivirals

INTRODUCTION

With the introduction of highly effective and safe therapies with next-generation direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), that act without interferon, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains the only treatable chronic infectious disease.

AREAS COVERED

The review aims to provide an overview of the therapy revolution with a description of specific DAAs, their mechanisms of action, a summary of the safety and efficacy of specific regimens, and a discussion of populations requiring special therapeutic approaches.

EXPERT OPINION

DAAs are highly effective, safe, and easy to use. However, challenges such as access to health services and loss of patients from the cascade of care, especially in groups disproportionately affected by HCV infection, such as substance abusers, make it difficult to achieve the WHO's goal of HCV elimination. The proposed strategy to combat these difficulties involves a one-step approach to diagnosing and treating the infection, the availability of long-lasting forms of medication, and the development of an effective vaccine. The aforementioned opportunities are all the more important as the world is facing an opioid epidemic that is translating into an increase in HCV prevalence. This phenomenon is of greatest concern in women of childbearing age and in those already pregnant due to treatment limitations.

Treatment Outcomes of Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir/Voxilaprevir in Direct-Acting Antiviral-Experienced Hepatitis C Virus Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

About 5% of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients experienced treatment failure with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment. The global data on the practice and treatment outcomes of Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir/Voxilaprevir (SOF/VEL/VOX) in DAA-experienced CHC patients remains sparse. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SOF/VEL/VOX as a salvage treatment in DAA-experienced CHC patients. We searched five electronic databases from inception to 31 January 2023. The study outcomes were SVR12 and treatment-related adverse effects, with subgroup analysis performed based on genotype, cirrhosis, HCC, prior SOF/VEL exposure, and region. We identified and analyzed data from 24 studies (2877 DAA-experienced CHC patients); 17.2% had prior SOF/VEL exposure, 25% received ribavirin with SOF/VEL/VOX, and 42% had pre-treatment resistance-associated substitution (RAS) testing performed. Eastern Mediterranean had a higher pooled SVR12 than the America and Europe regions (p < 0.05). Predictors of SOF/VEL/VOX failure were genotype 3, active HCC, baseline cirrhosis, and prior SOF/VEL. Baseline RAS mutation and ribavirin supplementation were not associated with higher SVR12. Treatment discontinuation because of drug-related adverse events was uncommon (10 studies, 0.2%). In summary, SOF/VEL/VOX is efficacious and safe for retreatment in DAA-experienced CHC patients, even with RAS mutation. Our findings support SOF/VEL/VOX as a first-line rescue treatment for DAA-experienced CHC patients.

The wide spectrum of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis and an overview of therapeutic advancements

Immunoglobulins that reversibly precipitate at temperatures below 37 °C are called cryoglobulins (CGs). Cryoglobulinemia often manifests as cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV), whose symptoms range in severity from purpuric eruptions to life-threatening features. The majority of CV patients are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), whereas lymphoproliferative disorders or connective tissue diseases (CTD) are commonly diagnosed among patients with CV of non-infectious origin. In the absence of detectable associated disease, cryoglobulinemia is classified as "essential" (EMC). All HCV-positive CV patients should be given direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) that are consistently able to induce a sustained virologic response (SVR). Glucocorticoids (GCs) can mitigate CV-associated vasculitis, but they have no role as maintenance therapy. Cyclophosphamide restrains the hyperactive phase(s) of the disease and the post-apheresis rebound of newly synthesized CGs. Its use has been largely replaced by rituximab (RTX) in patients unresponsive to DAAs, patients progressing to B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) and patients in whom CV persists or reappears after clearance of HCV. Therapeutic apheresis is an emergency treatment for CV patients with hyperviscosity syndrome. HCV-positive CV patients are at an increased risk of developing NHL, but the achievement of SVR can effectively prevent HCV-related NHL or induce the remission of an already established lymphoma, even without chemotherapy. The treatment of patients with IgM or IgG monoclonal cryoglobulins and an underlying immunoproliferative disorder is based on the regimens adopted for patients with the same B-cell malignancies but without circulating CGs. For patients with CTD, GCs plus alkylating agents or RTX are similarly effective as first-line therapy and in the relapse/refractory setting. In patients with EMC, treatment should consist of GCs plus RTX, with the dose of GCs tapered as soon as possible to reduce the risk of infectious complications.

Breakthroughs in hepatitis C research: from discovery to cure

In the 1970s, an unknown virus was suspected for documented cases of transfusion-associated hepatitis, a phenomenon called non-A, non-B hepatitis. In 1989, the infectious transmissible agent was identified and named hepatitis C virus (HCV) and, soon enough, the first diagnostic HCV antibody test was developed, which led to a dramatic decrease in new infections. Today, HCV infection remains a global health burden and a major cause of liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver transplantation. However, tremendous advances have been made over the decades, and HCV became the first curable, chronic viral infection. The introduction of direct antiviral agents revolutionized antiviral treatment, leading to viral eradication in more than 98% of all patients infected with HCV. This Perspective discusses the history of HCV research, which reads like a role model for successful translational research: starting from a clinical observation, specific therapeutic agents were developed, which finally were implemented in national and global elimination programmes.