Sofosbuvir for Hepatitis C Genotype 2 or 3 in Patients without Treatment Options

In two randomized trials, the oral nucleotide polymerase inhibitor sofosbuvir combined with ribavirin for 12 or 16 weeks was effective in patients with chronic HCV genotype 2 or 3 infection for whom interferon therapy either was not an option or had failed. When studied in clinical trials, the current standard-of-care therapy for patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 or 3 infection — pegylated interferon in combination with ribavirin for 24 weeks — resulted in a sustained virologic response in 70 to 85% of patients who had not received prior treatment and in 55 to 60% of those who had received treatment. 1 – 4 However, a substantial proportion of patients with HCV infection remain untreated owing to absolute or relative contraindications to interferon therapy, such as hepatic decompensation, autoimmune disease, and psychiatric illness. 5 In addition, interferon causes a range of constitutional symptoms . . .