HCV Therapy: Who to Treat Now, When to Wait, and What to Wait For

Nothing gets me more excited than listening to Ira M. Jacobson, M.D., discuss HCV, you too?

In this awesome new "Interactive Virtual Presentation" made available today over at CCO, we, the audience, are prompted to answer the million dollar question - rather to treat HCV now or wait.

The activity is an enabled response presentation, and based on various patient scenarios, but it gets even better, the good doctor offers his commentary after each slide, or case study.

Let me tempt you all with a few slides from the online CME. The first slide is for genotype 1 patients with a quick patient history, second slide offers a few treatment choices, and finally reader and expert results.

Patient Scenario

 

Genotype 1, never treated HCV before, stage 2 fibrosis, willing and able to take interferon, for a reasonable amount of time.

 

 

 

Pick One Any One

 

How should this patient be managed? (A) Treat with boceprevir, or telaprevir + Peginterferon/Ribavirin P/R, (B) simeprevir or sofosbuvir + P/R (C) treat with IFN-free off -label therapy based on simeprevir and/or sofosbuvir  (D) or wait and treat with IFN-free options approved for this genotype.

 

Which One Would You Pick?

 

Reader Response Results

 

The participants voted for (C) treat with IFN-free off -label therapy based on simeprevir and/or sofosbuvir.

 

Don't miss the in-depth commentary offered by Dr. Jacobson.  

Expert Results

 

Three experts voted to wait and treat when IFN-free options are approved for HCV genotype 1. Two experts voted to treat with the new agents simeprevir or sofosbuvir plus peginterferon and ribavirin. 

 

Dr. Jacobson noted in his commentary that SVR rates for sofosbuvir + P/R are high in genotype 1 patients, plus treatment duration is only 12 weeks.

 

Other commentary included what we already know, patient preference is the deciding factor. The bottom line is left up to us folks. When considering therapy - do you treat now, or wait?  A difficult decision to be sure, one made only with your own physician, and with an acquired knowledge of new agents - which begin, here.

Present Approaches to HCV Therapy: Who to Treat Now, When to Wait, and What to Wait For
Compare your strategies for timing of treatment with HCV experts.
Source: Treat Now or Later in HCV? Expert Guidance for Individual Scenarios
Faculty: Ira M. Jacobson MD
Released: 12/20/2013




Present Approaches to HCV Therapy: Who to Treat Now, When to Wait, and What to Wait for
Ira Jacobson, MD, reviews the key factors in deciding to treat or wait in HCV, then walks through several patient scenarios.
Source: Treat Now or Later in HCV? Expert Guidance for Individual Scenarios
Date Posted: 12/20/2013