Treatment outcomes and costs of a simplified antiretroviral treatment strategy for hepatitis C among Hepatitis C Virus and Human Immuno deficiency Virus co-infected patients in Ukraine

Background and Aim

To demonstrate the use of a standard dose of ledipasvir (LDV) and sofosbuvir (SOF), with or without ribavirin, to treat hepatitis C and hepatitis C/HIV co-infection in Ukraine.

Methods

Eligible HCV viraemic adults from two clinics in Kyiv were treated with LDV/SOF with or without weight-based ribavirin for 12 weeks. Clinical assessments were performed at screening and at week 24, and as needed; treatment was dispensed every 4 weeks. The primary outcome was sustained virologic response (SVR) 12 weeks after treatment, with analysis by intention to treat. Cost per patient was estimated in USD (2018) over the 24-week period.

Results

Of 868 patients included in the study and initiated on therapy, 482 (55.5%) were co-infected with HIV. The common genotypes were 1 (74.1%) and 3 (22%). Overall, SVR was achieved in 831 of the 868 patients (95.7%). SVR in patients with hepatitis C alone and hepatitis C/HIV co-infection was 98.4% and 93.6%, respectively. Adverse events were infrequent and usually mild. Using generic medication, cost per patient was estimated at US$680.

Conclusion

A standard dose of LDV and SOF, with ribavirin as per protocol, resulted in good outcomes for patients with both hepatitis C alone and co-infected with hepatitis C/HIV. Program costs in Ukraine were modest using generic medication.

Hepatitis C treatment outcome in former or current intravenous drug users coinfected with HIV, with or without directly observed therapy

BACKGROUND

Intravenous drug users (IDUs) with hepatitis C virus (HCV)/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-coinfection are recognised as a high-risk, vulnerable group.

METHODS

Between February 2015 and April 2018, a single-centre, non-interventional cohort study was conducted in an outpatient setting, to evaluate the sustained virologic response (SVR12) and assess treatment uptake models. The study included 385 former or recent IDUs divided into two groups: A-without use of opioid substitution treatment (OST) and B-patients taking opioid substitution; patients in group B received OST and self-administered therapy (B1) or OST and therapy under DOT (B2). Patients were characterised by demographic and clinical features and compared for treatment response. Correlations between SVR12 and independent variables were determined by logistic regression.

RESULTS

Patients were mostly males (88.3%) with a mean age of 46 ± 5 years and HCV genotype 1a (63.7%). Approximately 28% were treatment-experienced and 84.9% received sofosbuvir/ledipasvir. The mean CD4⁺T count was 649 cells/mm³, and most individuals were on antiretroviral therapy with undetectable viral loads (97.4%). SVR12 was achieved in 94.8%, and only eight patients relapsed. No significant differences were found in treatment effect between individuals taking opioid substitutes under different treatment models. Correlations were found between HCV viral response and both HIV suppression and albumin levels.

CONCLUSIONS

IDU with HCV/HIV coinfection, including individuals on self-administration of HCV therapy and opioid substitution treatments or in DOT programmes, are no longer considered a difficult-to-treat group, as they achieve high rates of SVR12.

Real-world efficacy of direct acting antiviral therapies in patients with HIV/HCV

The advent of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies has dramatically transformed HCV treatment, with most recent trials demonstrating high efficacy rates (>90%) across all genotypes and special populations, including patients with HIV/HCV coinfection. The efficacy rates of HCV treatment are nearly identical between patients with HCV monofection and patients with HIV/HCV coinfection; however, there are limited studies to compare real-world efficacy with efficacy observed in clinical trials. Using a database from HIV clinics across the United States (US), we identified 432 patients with HIV/HCV coinfection who completed DAA therapy from January 1, 2014 to March 31, 2017 and were assessed for efficacy. Efficacy was evaluated as sustained virologic response (SVR) 12 weeks after DAA completion; furthermore, factors associated with achieving SVR12 were identified. In this analysis, we found DAA therapies to be effective, with 94% of the patients achieving SVR12 and 6% experiencing virologic failure. Baseline variables, including older age, HCV viral load <800K IU/ML, FIB-4 score <1.45, absence of depression, diabetes, substance abuse, and use of DAA regimens without ribavirin were significant predictors of achieving SVR12. Patients with fewer comorbidities, better liver health, and lower HCV viral loads at baseline were more likely to achieve treatment success. Our results were consistent with other real-world studies, supporting the use of HCV therapy in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.

Real life results of direct acting antiviral therapy for HCV infection in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients: Epi-Ter2 study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the baseline demographics and real-life efficacy of direct acting antivirals (DAAs) in HIV-HCV-positive patients as compared to patients with HCV monoinfection. The analysis included 5690 subjects who were treated with DAAs: 5533 were HCV-positive and 157 were HIV-HCV-positive. Patients with HCV-monoinfection were older (p < .0001) and in HIV-HCV group there were more men (p < .0001). Prevalence of genotype 1a (p = .002), as well as of genotypes 3 and 4 (p < .0001) was higher in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients. Genotype 1b was more frequent (p < .0001) in the HCV-mono-infection group. Patients with HCV-monoinfection had a higher proportion of fibrosis F4 (p = .0004) and lower proportion of fibrosis F2 (p < .0001). HIV-HCV-coinfected individuals were more often treatment-naïve (p < .0001). Rates of sustained viral response after 12 weeks did not differ significantly between both groups (95.9% versus 97.3% in coinfection and monoinfection group, respectively; p > .05). They were, however, influenced by HCV genotype (p < .0001), stage of hepatic fibrosis (p < .0001), male sex (p < .0001), BMI (p = .0001) and treatment regimen modifications (p < .0001). Although factors associated with worse response to therapy (male sex, genotype 3) occurred more often in the HIV coinfection group, real-life results of DAAs did not differ significantly between both populations.

Effectiveness of All-Oral Antiviral Regimens in 996 Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1-Coinfected Patients Treated in Routine Practice

Background.

Large cohorts are needed to assess human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) real-world treatment outcomes. We examined the effectiveness of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir with or without ribavirin (LDV/SOF ± RBV) and ombitasvir/ paritaprevir/ritonavir plus dasabuvir (OPrD) ± RBV in HIV/HCV genotype 1 (GT1)-coinfected patients initiating HCV therapy in clinical practice.

Methods.

Observational intent-to-treat cohort analysis using the Veterans Affairs Clinical Case Registry to identify HIV/HCV GT1-coinfected veterans initiating 12 weeks of LDV/SOF ± RBV or OPrD ± RBV. Multivariate models of sustained virologic response (SVR) included age, race, cirrhosis, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescription, prior HCV treatment, body mass index, genotype subtype, and HCV treatment regimen.

Results.

Nine hundred ninety-six HIV/HCV GT1-coinfected veterans initiated therapy: 757 LDV/SOF, 138 LDV/SOF + RBV, 28 OPrD, and 73 OPrD + RBV. Overall SVR was 90.9% (823/905); LDV/SOF 92.1% (631/685), LDV/SOF + RBV 86.3% (113/131), OPrD 88.9% (24/27), and OPrD + RBV 88.7% (55/62). SVR was 85.9% (176/205) and 92.4% (647/700) in those with and without cirrhosis (P = .006). SVR was similar between African Americans (90.5% [546/603]) and all others (91.7% [277/302]). PPI use with LDV/SOF ± RBV did not affect SVR (89.7% [131/146] with PPI and 91.5% [613/670] without PPI). Cirrhosis was predictive of reduced SVR (0.51 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .31-.87]; P = .01). Median creatinine change did not differ among patients receiving LDV/SOF and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) without a protease inhibitor (PI) (0.18 [interquartile range {IQR}, 0.08-0.30]; n = 372), LDV/SOF and TDF/PI (0.17 [IQR, 0.04-0.30]; n = 100), and LDV/SOF without TDF (0.15 [IQR, 0.00-0.30]; n = 423).

Conclusions.

SVR rates in HIV/HCV GT1-coinfected patients were high. African American race or PPI use with LDV/SOF ± RBV was not associated with lower SVR rates, but cirrhosis was. Renal function did not worsen on LDV/SOF regimens with TDF.

Update in HIV-hepatitis C virus coinfection in the direct acting antiviral era

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Availability of direct acting antivirals (DAAs) that demonstrate remarkable clinical efficacy and safety has revolutionized the ability to treat chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV). An equal measure of clinical success has now been achieved in persons coinfected with HCV and the HIV, a historically harder to cure cohort with interferon-based therapy. Global goals include identifying all HIV-HCV-infected persons, gaining access to DAA therapy, preventing de novo and reinfection, and managing the sequelae of chronic infection. This review will discuss advances in the field of HIV-HCV coinfection reported during the last 18 months, and will suggest areas for future investigation.

RECENT FINDINGS

An expanding body of literature has enhanced our understanding of the clinical and epidemiologic issues surrounding HIV-HCV coinfection. DAA therapy for HCV is highly efficacious in HIV-HCV-coinfected persons if drug-drug interactions are appropriately considered.

SUMMARY

Eradicating HCV infection in persons with HIV coinfection can be achieved safely and effectively with available DAAs. Economic and social approaches to enable access and delivery of curative HCV therapy to HIV-infected persons require continued research and resource allocation.