CROI: Dual Therapy Cures HCV in HIV-Positive Individuals

A 6-week regimen of sofosbuvir (SOF)/ledipasvir (LDV) free of interferon and ribavirin is capable of curing hepatitis C in HIV-positive individuals with low viral loads, according to research presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections.

Current guidelines recommend 24 weeks of interferon and ribavirin for treatment of hepatitis C infection in HIV-positive individuals, but researchers speculated that shorter-duration regimens involving all-oral agents may be more effective and better tolerated by patients.

To test the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of LDV/SOF therapy, researchers conducted a study of 26 patients with hepatitis C infection. Overall, 22 of the 26 achieved sustained virologic response, while 4 patients relapsed.

“LDV/SOF for 6 weeks is effective and well tolerated in HIV-infected patients with acute HCV infection who have a baseline HCV RNA,” they concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Rockstroh JK, Bhagani S, Hyland RH, et al. Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir for 6 weeks in HIV-infected patients with acute HCV infection. Paper presented at: CROI. February 25, 2016. Boston, Massachusetts.