Treatment of HCV with ABT-450/r–Ombitasvir and Dasabuvir with Ribavirin

In this trial in previously untreated patients with HCV genotype 1 infection and no cirrhosis, high rates of sustained response were achieved with three new direct-acting antiviral agents and ribavirin. Serious adverse events and treatment discontinuation were infrequent. Approximately 184 million people worldwide have chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and more than 350,000 people die of HCV-related liver disease each year. 1 , 2 Until recently, the standard of care for chronic HCV genotype 1 infection was a first-generation protease inhibitor, telaprevir or boceprevir, with peginterferon and ribavirin; this therapy resulted in rates of sustained virologic response of 67 to 75% among previously untreated patients. 3 , 4 The new standard of care is peginterferon and ribavirin combined with either the nucleotide nonstructural (NS) 5B polymerase inhibitor sofosbuvir or the protease inhibitor simeprevir. 5 Peginterferon-based treatment is associated with clinically significant systemic . . .