Real-world efficacy and safety of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in Japanese adolescents with chronic hepatitis C: a prospective multicenter study

Background Part 1 of the DORA study, a 2019 international clinical trial of glecaprevir and pibrentasvir (G/P) treatment in adolescents with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, demonstrated high efficacy and safety. However, few reports have considered real-world experience with G/P treatment in adolescents with chronic HCV. The present prospective multicenter study assessed real-world efficacy and safety of G/P treatment in Japanese adolescents with chronic HCV. Methods Subjects between 12 and 17 years old who were treatment-naïve or previously managed with interferon-based regimens were prospectively enrolled and treated with G/P (300 mg/120 mg) once daily for 8 or 12 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after treatment completion (SVR12). Adverse effects and laboratory abnormalities were assessed. Results Twenty-five Japanese patients (15 female) were enrolled from 13 pediatric centers in Japan. Median age was 13 years (range 12–17). Numbers of patients with genotypes 1b, 2a, 2b, and 2b/1b were 6, 12, 6, and 1, respectively. Twenty-two were treatment-naïve, while three had experienced interferon-based treatments. All patients completed G/P treatment (24 for 8 weeks and 1 for 12). Twenty-four achieved SVR12 (96%). Most adverse events were mild. None were serious. G/P significantly decreased serum alanine aminotransferase, γ‐glutamyltransferase, and Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2-binding protein concentrations. No negative effects on growth or maturation were apparent at 12 weeks. Conclusions Under real-world conditions, G/P treatment of Japanese adolescents with chronic HCV was highly efficacious and well tolerated.