Future HCV therapies will improve SVR rates, treatment durations, tolerability

Future HCV therapies will improve SVR rates, treatment durations, tolerability

June 13, 2013

ORLANDO, Fla. — Anna S. Lok, MD, professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich., discusses upcoming advancements in therapies for hepatitis C at Digestive Disease Week 2013.

Lok suggests that, with the emergence of new direct-acting antivirals within the next 5 years, the majority of patients with hepatitis C will be curable with a short course of once-daily, all-oral therapy with minimal side effects. Sustained virologic response rates of 80% to 90% will be possible with as few as 12 weeks of therapy, she estimated, with the lack of cross-resistance among new drugs of different classes allowing for potent, interferon-free treatment regimens. Lok anticipates FDA approval of two to three HCV medications by early 2014.

Source - Healio