Grazoprevir plus peginterferon and ribavirin in treatment-naive patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection: a randomized trial

Summary Grazoprevir (MK‐5172, Merck & Co., Inc.) is a selective inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3/4a protease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of grazoprevir at doses of 25–100 mg/day in combination with peginterferon and ribavirin (PEG‐IFN/RBV). In this randomized, dose‐ranging, multicentre trial, treatment‐naive adults with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection received once‐daily grazoprevir 25 mg, 50 mg or 100 mg plus PEG‐IFN/RBV for 12 weeks. Patients with quantifiable HCV RNA (≥25 IU/mL) at week 4 received an additional 12 weeks of PEG‐IFN/RBV. The primary endpoint was sustained virologic response (HCV RNA