Elbasvir/grazoprevir, Velpatasvir/sofosbuvir, and Eteplirsen

Abstract

The marketing of sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) in late 2013 and a combination of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir (Harvoni) in late 2014 have represented very important advances in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, with cure rates exceeding 90%. Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir was initially approved for the treatment of patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection, the most common genotype in the United States, and subsequently approved for the treatment of patients with chronic HCV genotypes 4, 5, and 6 infections. Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir is administered once a day, and the duration of treatment for most patients is 12 weeks, although an 8-week course of treatment can be considered for treatment-naïve patients with genotype 1 infection without cirrhosis who have pretreatment HCV RNA less than 6 million IU/mL. In some patients (e.g., treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced with decompensated cirrhosis), ribavirin is also included in the treatment regimen. Daniel A. Hussar, PhD, Remington Professor of Pharmacy, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA William P. Tidwell, BS, Student Pharmacist, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA