Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Scientists track hepatitis C roots in Scotland

Scientists track hepatitis C roots in Scotland
SHÂN ROSS

The roots of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Scotland can be traced back to the Second World War, according to new research from the University of Glasgow.

The researchers showed that HCV entered Scotland during the 1930s and 1940s while also spreading to other countries throughout the world, probably through the mass treatment of soldiers in field hospitals.

In the study published in the Journal of Virology, scientists from the MRC-University of Glasgow centre for virus research and NHS virus diagnostics labs describe how they examined the spread of HCV across Scotland by comparing the sequence of virus strains in infected individuals across various geographical areas.

Read more...

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Viekira Pak and Technivie - FDA warns of serious liver injury risk with hepatitis C treatments

After patient deaths, FDA warns about liver damage risk of hepatitis C medications
The Food and Drug Administration said it had received numerous reports of patients who either died or had to undergo liver transplantation after receiving the treatments, known as Viekira Pak and Technivie. The agency said it had identified at least 26 such cases likely related to the drugs since late 2014, and that additional cases likely exist. The liver damage usually took place within four weeks of the start of treatment, and the patients involved already had cirrhosis of the liver, the agency said.
Source

Viekira Pak, Technivie May Up Serious Liver Injury Risk: FDA
"[T]he labels now state a [contraindication] in patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B and C). The label previously did not recommend Viekira Pak in Child-Pugh B and was contraindicated in Child-Pugh C," according to an AbbVie statement.

AbbVie's Hepatitis C Drugs Label Changed After Patient Deaths
Seven patients on AbbVie Inc.’s drugs for hepatitis C died after liver failure, prompting U.S. regulators to change their advice on how the medicine should be administered.
Doctors should monitor patients using Viekira Pak for signs of worsening liver disease, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a statement Thursday..... 
The Food and Drug Administration said AbbVie had identified cases of hepatic decompensation and liver failure in patients with liver cirrhosis who were taking these medicines.
"Some of these events resulted in liver transplantation or death," the agency said in a posting on its website.
The FDA said it is requiring AbbVie to include warnings about the risk of serious liver injury in the labels of its combination hepatitis C treatments...

Oct 22 2015
Safety Announcement
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns of serious liver injury risk with hepatitis C treatments Viekira Pak and Technivie

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that hepatitis C treatments Viekira Pak and Technivie can cause serious liver injury mostly in patients with underlying advanced liver disease. As a result, we are requiring the manufacturer to add new information about this safety risk to the drug labels.

Patients taking these medicines should contact their health care professional immediately if they develop fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, yellow eyes or skin, or light-colored stools, as these may be signs of liver injury. Patients should not stop taking these medicines without first talking to their health care professionals. Stopping treatment early could result in drug resistance to other hepatitis C medicines. Health care professionals should closely monitor for signs and symptoms of worsening liver disease, such as ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal hemorrhage, and/or increases in direct bilirubin in the blood.

Viekira Pak and Technivie are used to treat chronic hepatitis C, a viral infection that can last a lifetime and lead to serious liver and other health problems, including cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death. These medicines reduce the amount of hepatitis C virus in the body by preventing it from multiplying and may slow down the disease.

Our review of adverse events reported to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database and to the manufacturer of these medicines, AbbVie, identified cases of hepatic decompensation and liver failure in patients with underlying liver cirrhosis who were taking these medicines. Some of these events resulted in liver transplantation or death. These serious outcomes were reported mostly in patients taking Viekira Pak who had evidence of advanced cirrhosis even before starting treatment with it.

Since the approvals of Viekira Pak in December 2014 and Technivie in July 2015, at least 26 worldwide cases submitted to FAERS were considered to be possibly or probably related to Viekira Pak or Technivie. In most of the cases, liver injury occurred within 1 to 4 weeks of starting treatment. Some of the cases occurred in patients for whom these medicines were contraindicated or not recommended (see Data Summary). FAERS includes only reports submitted to FDA, so there are likely additional cases about which we are unaware.

We are requiring AbbVie to include information about serious liver injury adverse events to theContraindications, Warnings and Precautions, Postmarketing Experience, and Hepatic Impairment sections of the Viekira Pak and Technivie drug labels.

We urge health care professionals and patients to report side effects involving Viekira Pak or Technivie to the FDA MedWatch program, using the information in the “Contact FDA” box at the bottom of the page...

OCT/NOV 2015 American Liver Foundation Newsletter: Focus on liver cancer


Welcome to the October/November 2015 edition of the Liver Lowdown. Click on the links below and check out our featured stories for the month!

FEATURE- LIVER CANCER AWARENESS

This issue of Liver Lowdown focuses on liver cancer. Two top specialists answer your questions about liver cancer, a courageous patient tells how he turned down a liver transplant to save another; and American Liver Cancer launches a Liver Cancer Awareness Campaign with advertising on taxi tops and on buses.
READ MORE

BASIC LIVER CANCER Q&A
Are there different types of liver cancer? Find out the answer to this and other questions.
READ MORE

LIVER CANCER RISK FACTORS Q&A
Should you be screened for liver cancer? Learn the facts.
READ MORE

LIVER CANCER TREATMENT Q&A
What options exist for Liver Cancer Treatment? Get current information.
READ MORE

UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Giving Tuesday is just around the corner. Get involved.
READ MORE

PATIENT STORY
Art Clark risked his life to save another.
READ MORE

RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Looking for a delicious recipe to try tonight? We have one for you! Have a recipe to share? We would love to hear from you.
READ MORE

In case you missed this months collection of Hepatitis Newsletters, please click here to view all October publications.

Diabetes, Hypertension Raise Risk for Liver Cancer

Medscape Medical News > Conference News 

Diabetes, Hypertension Raise Risk for Liver Cancer

Neil Osterweil | October 21, 2015
HONOLULU — Diabetes and hypertension are both independent risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma, even in the absence of cirrhosis or the common causes of cirrhosis, according to a retrospective study.

Does this mean we should "screen patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension for hepatocellular carcinoma in the absence of cirrhosis, and will this be cost-effective?" asked Allison Kasmari, MD, a gastroenterology resident at Penn State Hershey Medical Center in Pennsylvania.

Previous studies have suggested that diabetes increases the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma, prompting Dr Kasmari and her colleagues to investigate whether other components of the metabolic syndrome — such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia — increase risk.

She presented the results here at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2015 Annual Meeting.

The team retrospectively identified 17,446 patients of hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosed from 2008 to 2012 in the MarketScan Health Claims database.

The final study cohort consisted of 7473 patients, after the exclusion of those with possible confounders, such as cirrhosis, hepatitis B, alcoholic liver damage, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and some autoimmune and hereditary conditions.

The 22,110-person control group provided about three age- and sex- matched subjects for each patient with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatitis C Link

The researchers found that diabetes is associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (odds ratio [OR], 1.353), as are hypertension (OR, 1.229) and hepatitis C (OR, 2.102).

In contrast, hyperlipidemia appears to be protective against hepatocellular carcinoma (OR, 0.885).

There was a significant association between some diabetes medications, such as insulin, and an increased risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (OR, 1.640). But for other diabetes medications, such as metformin, there was a significant decreased risk (OR, 0.706).

In subanalyses, the researchers found a fourfold increase in the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with the combination of diabetes, hypertension, and hepatitis C (OR, 4.580). The risk was also elevated in patients with just diabetes and hypertension (OR, 3.399).

Risks were also elevated in patients with diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hepatitis C (OR, 2.319), and in patients with diabetes and hyperlipidemia (OR, 2.395).

Dr Kasmari acknowledged that the patient population in this study is relatively young (range, 16 to 64 years), and that insurance claims data, compared with data from other sources, could have led to underestimates of some conditions.

In addition, the team was unable to look at obesity as a variable in their analysis, because obesity is not commonly coded as a diagnosis, she reported.

The finding that some diabetes medications are detrimental and some are protective is intriguing, said John Saltzman, MD, from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, who is chair of the ACG educational affairs committee and who selected the abstract for presentation.

"Diabetes and hypertension were predictive of hepatocellular carcinoma, but I'm not sure I understand the mechanism of hypertension [in the disease]," he told Medscape Medical News.

"Are these modifiable risks?" he asked. "If you have a patient who has these things and you treat them, can you reduce those risks?"

The study funding source was not disclosed. Dr Kasmari and Dr Saltzman have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2015 Annual Meeting: Abstract 1. Presented October 19, 2015.

AASLD - Benitec To Present Interim Data of TT-034 Phase I/IIa Study At Liver Meeting

Benitec Biopharma's Abstract Accepted for Presentation at the AASLD Liver Meeting 2015

SYDNEY, Oct. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Benitec Biopharma Limited (NASDAQ: BNTC; NASDAQ: BNTCW; ASX: BLT) is pleased to announce that clinical data on its Phase I/IIa study of TT-034 for hepatitis C will be presented in the 'late-breaking poster' session at The Liver Meeting® 2015, the 66th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) being held in San Francisco on November 13-17, 2015.

The abstract, which has been published on the conference website, details interim results from patients in the first three cohorts in Benitec's Phase I/IIa study of TT-034, a DNA-directed RNA interference agent (ddRNAi). 

The primary endpoint that this study is monitoring is safety of this first-in-man gene therapy-based gene silencing drug. Key findings include:
The three doses of TT-034 administered to date have been well tolerated in human subjects infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and there have been no reported serious adverse events related to administration of the study drug;
The initial dose (4E10 vg/kg) resulted in very low levels of transduction as expected.
The second dose (1.25E11 vg/kg) resulted in the detection of substantially higher levels of TT-034 in the hepatocytes, the predominant cell type in the liver, yielding 0.48, 3.65 and 10.44 copies of TT-034 

DNA per cell in the three patients respectively;
The first subject administered with the third dose (4.00E11 vg/kg) had 17.74 copies of TT-034 per cell, indicating that a significant portion of their hepatocytes may have been transduced, and expression of anti-HCV shRNAs was clearly detected in the transduced hepatocytes.

Benitec's Chief Scientific Officer, Dr David Suhy said, "We are pleased to be given the opportunity to present this interim data at the AASLD Liver Meeting next month. The results show that a single infusion of TT-034 is reaching the liver and that it has a very favourable safety profile at the doses tested to date. In the patient that has received the highest dose to date, we are able to detect that anti-HCV shRNAs have been expressed in the liver without any drug-related serious adverse effects, indicating that so far the trial is achieving its primary outcome. We are pleased with the progress of the trial to date."

To read the full abstract, please visit: http://www.aasld.org/sites/default/files/TLM-2015-LakeBreakingAbstracts.pdf

This announcement has been prepared for publication in Australia and may not be released in the United States. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

For further information regarding Benitec and its activities, please contact the persons below, or visit the Benitec website at www.benitec.com.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

AbbVie's HOLKIRA PAK Now Reimbursed in all Four Atlantic Provinces

AbbVie's HOLKIRA PAK Now Reimbursed in all Four Atlantic Provinces

HOLKIRA PAK now reimbursed in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador for patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus infection

Prince Edward Island was the first province in Canada to reimburse HOLKIRA PAK

In Phase 3 clinical trials, HOLKIRA PAK (with or without ribavirin) cured an overall 97 percent of genotype 1 HCV patients; additionally, 98 percent of patients completed treatment

MONTREAL, Oct. 21, 2015 /CNW/ - AbbVie's HOLKIRA PAK (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir film-coated tablets; dasabuvir film-coated tablets) will now be reimbursed in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. HOLKIRA PAK is an all-oral, short-course (12 weeks for the majority of patients), interferon-free treatment, with or without ribavirin (RBV), for the treatment of patients with genotype 1 (GT1) chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, including those with compensated cirrhosis.

"With the hepatitis C treatment revolution over the last few years, there is an amazing shift in how we approach our patients. We can now offer them options and hope," explains Dr. Lisa Barrett, Clinician Scientist, Division of Infectious Diseases, Nova Scotia Health Authority and Dalhousie Medical School. "Now, we want to eliminate HCV by treating and curing everyone, in order to prevent the devastating long-term effects the disease has on the liver. I am excited that providers have another tool to treat hepatitis C. In the long-term, this benefits not only people living with this disease, but also our health care system as a whole."

In the Atlantic Provinces, HOLKIRA PAK will be reimbursed for treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced adult patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection, with compensated liver disease, (including compensated cirrhosis) according to specific criteria. Prince Edward Island's HCV strategy, including access to HOLKIRA PAK, was announced on February 121. HOLKIRA PAK was listed on theNewfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program2, effective August 1. The listing by Nova Scotia Pharmacare3 was announced on August 13 but became effective on Tuesday, September 1.

"It is wonderful to see the new hepatitis C treatments, such as HOLKIRA PAK, become available in Nova Scotia. This treatment, that has an extremely high cure rate, manageable side effects, and short treatment course, offers hope to many Nova Scotians who have been living with hepatitis for years as well as those who are newly diagnosed. This is what we have been waiting for; it's a life saver," says Carla Densmore MS, executive director, Hepatitis Outreach Society of Nova Scotia.

In New Brunswick4, the listing on the Drug Plans Formulary became effective onOctober 14. "It is a truly exciting time to have well tolerated and curative treatments for a disease that is a leading cause of liver failure and liver cancer in New Brunswick. With these drugs New Brunswick physicians are dramatically improving models of care for patients living with this disease," states Dr. Daniel Smyth, assistant professor, Dalhousie University, Division of Infectious Diseases. "Research programs initiated in New Brunswick will show that using these drugs correctly saves money in the long term by preventing new infections and preventing costly complications of untreated disease. I recommend that all persons born between the years 1945 and 1975 be screened for hepatitis C infection, as well as others who may have been exposed through high risk activities including injecting drugs and self-tattooing. Please ask your family physician about hepatitis C testing, and referral if needed."

HOLKIRA PAK combines three direct-acting antivirals to attack the virus at three separate stages of its replication process. In Phase 3 clinical trials, HOLKIRA PAK (with or without ribavirin) cured an overall 97 percent of GT1 HCV patients, and 98 percent of patients completed treatment.

"Since the launch of HOLKIRA PAK in December 2014, we committed to a collaborative approach with governments, medical and patient organizations to bring our best-in-class treatment to Canadians living with genotype 1 hepatitis C. Today, we are proud to say that we made good on our promise because HOLKIRA PAK is now reimbursed across Canada," says Stéphane Lassignardie, general manager, AbbVie Canada. "And with HOLKIRA PAK, AbbVie is offering its support program AbbVie Care, designed to provide a wide range of customized services throughout the treatment and beyond."

HOLKIRA PAK was approved by Health Canada on December 22, 2014. The approval of HOLKIRA PAK was supported by a robust clinical development program that was designed to study the safety and efficacy of the regimen in six pivotal Phase 3 studies with more than 2,300 patients across 25 countries, including one trial exclusively in subjects with cirrhosis.

October Update- Upcoming and Recruiting Hepatitis C Clinical Trials

Upcoming and Recruiting Hepatitis C Clinical Trials

The HCV clinical trials in this post are not a complete list; to learn more about Hepatitis C virus clinical trials or to find out if a study is enrolling patients in your area, please click here.

For a quick reference guide of drugs under development and FDA approved medications please visit:

HCV Advocate
Detailed Reference Guide
FDA Approved Medications
Phase II Clinical Trials
Phase III Clinical Trials

Of Interest
The 66th Liver Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases will take place in San Francisco, California between 13th and 17th November 2015, view late breaking abstracts, here. get updates of the meeting on twitter, here, or follow AASLD tweets, here.

This study is currently recruiting participants
A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir and Dasabuvir With or Without Ribavirin in US Veterans With Genotype 1 Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT02442284
Conditions: Chronic Hepatitis C; Cirrhosis; Hepatitis C Virus
Interventions: Drug: Ombitasvir; Drug: Paritaprevir; Drug: Ritonavir; Drug: Dasabuvir; Drug: Ribavirin
Sponsor: AbbVie
Verified October 2015 by AbbVie

This study is currently recruiting participants.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT02582658
‎Yesterday, ‎October ‎20, ‎2015, ‏‎12:00:00 PM
Condition: Chronic Hepatitis C
Intervention:
Sponsor: AbbVie
Recruiting - verified October 2015

New
This study is currently recruiting participants
‎Monday, ‎October ‎19, ‎2015, ‏‎12:00:00 PM
Condition: Chronic Hepatitis C, Genotype 1 or 4
Intervention:
Sponsor: AbbVie
Recruiting - verified October 2015 

This study is currently recruiting participants.
United States, New York, France
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT02493855
Conditions: Chronic Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C (HCV); Hepatitis C Genotype 1a
Interventions: Drug: ombitasvir/ABT-450/ritonavir; Drug: dasabuvir; Drug: ribavirin
Verified October 2015 by AbbVie

This study is currently recruiting participants.
China
‎Monday, ‎October ‎12, ‎2015, ‏‎12:00:00 PM
Condition: Chronic Hepatitis C Infection
Interventions: Drug: SOF+DCV; Drug: LDV/SOF
Sponsors: Humanity & Healthy GI and Liver Centre; Beijing 302 Hospital
Recruiting - verified October 2015 

This study is currently recruiting participants
India
Saturday, ‎September ‎26, ‎2015, ‏‎12:00:00 PM
Condition: CKD With Hepatitis C
Intervention:
Sponsor: Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, India
Recruiting - verified September 2015 

This study is currently recruiting participants
A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Three Experimental Drugs in Adults With Hepatitis C Virus Infection, Who Are Either Treatment-naive or Treatment-experienced in Brazil
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT02442271
Condition: Chronic Hepatitis C Infection
Interventions: Drug: Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir; Drug: Dasabuvir; Drug: Ribavirin
Sponsor: AbbVie
Verified October 2015 by AbbVie

This study is currently recruiting participants
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT02421211
Condition: Hepatitis C, Chronic
Interventions: Drug: Simeprevir (SMV); Drug: Ledipasvir (LDV); Drug: Sofosbuvir (SOF)
Sponsor: Janssen Sciences Ireland UC
Verified September 2015

This study is currently recruiting participants
A Two Part, Open-label Study to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of ABT-450/r/ABT-267 or ABT-450/r/ABT-267 and ABT-333 Given With or Without a Drug Called Ribavirin in People With Both Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1 or 4 Infection and Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Type 1 Infection
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT01939197
Conditions: Hepatitis C Virus Infection; Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection; Chronic Hepatitis C; Compensated Cirrhosis and Non-cirrhotics
Interventions: Drug: ABT-450/r/ABT-267; Drug: ABT-333; Drug: Ribavirin (RBV)
Verified October 2015 by AbbVie

This study is currently recruiting participants
New Treatment Response in People With and Without Cirrhosis From Chronic Hepatitis C
United States, Maryland
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT01888900
Verified February 2015 by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Drug: Asunaprevir and Daclatsvir
Drug: Asunaprevir, daclatsvir, peginterferon, ribavirin

This study is not yet open for participant recruitment
Thursday, ‎October ‎01, ‎2015, ‏‎12:00:00 PM
Condition: Chronic Hepatitis C
Interventions: Drug: AL-335; Drug: ACH-3102; Drug: Simeprevir
Sponsor: Alios Biopharma Inc.
Not yet recruiting - verified October 2015 

This study is not yet open for participant recruitment
A Study to Evaluate Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir and Dasabuvir in Treatment-Naïve Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1b-Infected Adults
‎Yesterday, ‎October ‎20, ‎2015, ‏‎12:00:00 PM
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT02582632
Conditions: Hepatitis C Infection; Hepatitis C Virus
Interventions: Drug: Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir; Drug: dasabuvir
Sponsor: AbbVie
Not yet recruiting - verified October 2015 

New
This study is not yet open for participant recruitment
Yesterday, ‎October ‎20, ‎2015, ‏‎12:00:00 PM
Condition: Chronic Hepatitis C
Intervention:
Sponsor: AbbVie
Not yet recruiting - verified October 2015 

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT02581020
‎Monday, ‎October ‎19, ‎2015, ‏‎12:00:00 PM
Condition: Hepatitis C Virus
Intervention:
Sponsor: AbbVie
Not yet recruiting - verified October 2015 

This study is not yet open for participant recruitment
Friday, ‎October ‎16, ‎2015, ‏‎12:00:00 PM
Condition: Hepatitis C
Intervention: Drug: Daclatasvir plus Asunaprevir
Sponsors: Myeong Jun Song; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Soonchunhyang University Hospital; Dankook University; Chungnam National University Hospital; Konyang University Hospital; Eulji University Hospital; Saint Vincent's Hospital, Korea; Konkuk University Hospital; Cheongju St. Mary's Hospital, Cheongju, Korea; Severance Hospital; Korea University Guro Hospital; Eulji General Hospital
Not yet recruiting - verified October 2015 

This study is not yet open for participant recruitment
A Drug-drug Interaction Study Between Daclatasvir and Metformin
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT02565862
‎Wednesday, ‎September ‎30, ‎2015, ‏‎12:00:00 PM
Conditions: Hepatitis C; Diabetes Mellitus; Insulin Resistance
Interventions: Drug: Daclatasvir; Drug: Metformin
Sponsor: Radboud University
Not yet recruiting - verified September 2015 

This study is not yet open for participant recruitment
A Drug-drug Interaction Study Between Daclatasvir and Atazanavir/Ritonavir or Atazanavir/Cobicistat
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT02565888‎
Wednesday, ‎September ‎30, ‎2015, ‏‎12:00:00 PM
Conditions: Hepatitis C; HIV
Interventions: Drug: Daclatasvir; Drug: Atazanavir; Drug: Ritonavir; Drug: Cobicistat
Sponsor: Radboud University
Not yet recruiting - verified September 2015 

This study is not yet open for participant recruitment
Use-Results Surveillance Study of Sovaldi® Plus Rebetol® in Japanese Patients With Chronic Genotype 2 Hepatitis C Virus Infection
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT02562742
‎Monday, ‎September ‎28, ‎2015, ‏‎12:00:00 PM
Condition: Hepatitis C
Interventions: Drug: SOF; Drug: REB
Sponsors: Gilead Sciences; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. Japan
Not yet recruiting - verified September 2015 

This study is not yet open for participant recruitment
‎Tuesday, ‎September ‎15, ‎2015, ‏‎12:00:00 PM
Condition: Hepatitis C
Interventions: Drug: Daclatasvir; Drug: Sofosbuvir
Sponsor: Bristol-Myers Squibb
Not yet recruiting - verified October 2015 

This study is not yet open for participant recruitment
Tuesday, ‎September ‎15, ‎2015, ‏‎12:00:00 PM
Condition: Hepatitis C
Interventions: Drug: Daclatasvir; Drug: Sofosbuvir; Drug: Ribavirin
Sponsor: Bristol-Myers Squibb
Not yet recruiting - verified September 2015

AASLD: Bristol-Myers To Present Data From Multiple Studies Of Difficult-To-Treat Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) To Present Data From Multiple Studies Of Difficult-To-Treat Chronic Hepatitis C Patients At American Association for Study of Liver Diseases
Real-world use of Daklinza-based regimens complements clinical findings across various HCV patient populations
Results of ALLY-3+ trial in genotype 3 HCV patients with cirrhosis to provide new insights into treating this patient population

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) announced today that 17 abstracts have been accepted for presentation at The Liver Meeting® 2015, the annual meeting of The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) 2015, taking place in San Francisco, CA., from November 13 – 17.

“The data to be presented at this year’s AASLD conference reinforces Bristol-Myers Squibb’s ongoing commitment to investigating Daklinza-based treatments that could address the still-challenging needs of many patients living with chronic viral hepatitis C”

Highlights include:
Real-world data in chronic hepatitis C (HCV) populations, including genotype 3 patients, post-liver transplant patients, patients with advanced liver disease (including decompensated cirrhosis) and those coinfected with HIV.
Late-breaking data from the ALLY-3+ clinical trial, a study of Daklinza (daclatasvir) and sofosbuvir with ribavirin in genotype 3 HCV patients with cirrhosis.

“The data to be presented at this year’s AASLD conference reinforces Bristol-Myers Squibb’s ongoing commitment to investigating Daklinza-based treatments that could address the still-challenging needs of many patients living with chronic viral hepatitis C,” said Douglas Manion, M.D., head of Specialty Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “We are aiming to ultimately help a diverse range of hepatitis C patient populations.”

The complete list of Bristol-Myers Squibb data presentations follows. More information is available at http://www.aasld.org/.

TitleDate/Time
Oral Presentation: All-Oral Treatment With Daclatasvir (DCV) Plus Sofosbuvir (SOF) Plus Ribavirin (RBV) for 12 or 16 Weeks in HCV Genotype (GT) 3-Infected Patients With Advanced Fibrosis or Cirrhosis: The ALLY-3+ Phase 3 Study
Session: Late-breaking Abstract Session
Date: November 16, 2015
Session Time: 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Publication Number: LB-3
Oral Presentation: Safety and efficacy of daclatasvir plus sofosbuvir with or without ribavirin for the treatment of chronic HCV genotype 3 infection: Interim results of a multicenter European compassionate use program
Session: Parallel 5: Hepatitis C: Pre-Approval Clinical 
Studies I
Date: November 15, 2015
Session Time: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Presentation Time: 3:00 - 3:15 p.m.
Location: General Session/3000 (Moscone Center)
Publication Number: 37
Oral Presentation: Daclatasvir plus sofosbuvir with or without ribavirin in genotype 3 patients from a large French multicenter compassionate use program
Session: Viral Hepatitis Plenary
Date: November 17, 2015
Session Time: 8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
Presentation Time: 8:15 - 8:30 a.m.
Location: Room 3000 (Moscone Center)
Publication Number: 206
Oral Presentation: Daclatasvir and Sofosbuvir in Patients with Recurrent HCV Following Liver Transplantation and Advanced Fibrosis or Cirrhosis: United States Multicenter Treatment Protocol
Session: Parallel 32: Clinical Aspects of HCV Virology, Pathogenesis, and Immunology
Date: November 17, 2015
Session Time: 11:15 a.m. -12:45 p.m.
Presentation Time: 12:00 -12:15 p.m.*
Location: Room 3014 (Moscone Center)
Publication Number: 217
* Presentation time expected to change, TBC
Oral Presentation: Daclatasvir in combination with sofosbuvir with or without ribavirin is safe and efficacious in liver transplant recipients with HCV recurrence: Interim results of a multicenter compassionate use program
Session: Parallel 37: Hepatitis C: Pre-Approval
Clinical Studies II

Date: November 17, 2015
Session Time: 11:15 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Presentation Time: 12:30 - 12:45 p.m.
Location: General Session/3000 (Moscone Center)
Publication Number: 252
Presidential Poster of Distinction:702 Short-duration therapy with daclatasvir/asunaprevir/beclabuvir fixed-dose combination plus sofosbuvir in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 (FOURward Study)
Session: Therapeutics: New Agents
(not approved, Phase 2-3)

Date: November 14, 2015
Presentation Time: 2:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Poster Hall
Publication Number: 702
Presidential Poster of Distinction:Daclatasvir plus sofosbuvir with or without ribavirin for the treatment of chronic HCV in patients coinfected with HIV: Interim results of a multicenter compassionate use program
Session: Hepatitis C: Therapeutics /Approved Agents
Date: November 15, 2015
Presentation Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Poster Hall
Publication Number: 1058
Poster: Improvement in liver disease parameters following treatment with daclatasvir + sofosbuvir and ribavirin in patients with chronic HCV infection and advanced cirrhosis
Session: Therapeutics: New Agents 
(not approved, Phase 2-3)
Date: November 14, 2015
Presentation Time: 2:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Poster Hall
Publication Number: 706
Poster: Baseline HCV NS5A resistance-associated variants do not impact SVR12 rates in non-cirrhotic and post-liver transplant patients with genotype 1 infection treated with daclatasvir and sofosbuvir with or without ribavirin for 12 weeks: An integrated analysis
Session: Therapeutics: New Agents 
(not approved, Phase 2-3)
Date: November 14, 2015
Presentation Time: 2:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Poster Hall
Publication Number: 709
Poster: Comparative Efficacy and Tolerability of Daclatasvir + Sofosbuvir versus Sofosbuvir + Ribavirin in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Coinfected with HIV: A Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparison
Session: Therapeutics: New Agents
(not approved, Phase 2-3)

Date: November 14, 2015
Presentation Time: 2:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Poster Hall
Publication Number: 711
Poster: An integrated safety analysis of daclatasvir + sofosbuvir, with or without ribavirin, in patients with chronic HCV infection
Session: Therapeutics: New Agents 
(not approved, Phase 2-3)
Date: November 14, 2015
Presentation Time: 2:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Poster Hall
Publication Number: 716
Poster: Daclatasvir exposure does not explain lower sustained virologic response rates in cirrhotic patients with HCV genotype 3 following 12 weeks of daclatasvir plus sofosbuvir treatment

Session: Therapeutics: New Agents 
(not approved, Phase 2-3)
Date: November 14, 2015
Presentation Time: 2:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Poster Hall
Publication Number: 720
Poster: Integrated Safety Analysis of Daclatasvir Plus Sofosbuvir, With or Without Ribavirin, in Patients With HCV Genotype 3 Infection
Session: Therapeutics: New Agents
(not approved, Phase 2-3)

Date: November 14, 2015
Presentation Time: 2:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Poster Hall
Publication Number: 726
Poster: Daclatasvir exposure alone does not explain HCV relapse in HIV-HCV coinfected patients receiving daclatasvir plus sofosbuvir with ritonavir-boosted darunavir in the ALLY-2 study
Session: Therapeutics: New Agents 
(not approved, Phase 2-3)
Date: November 14, 2015
Presentation Time: 2:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Poster Hall
Publication Number: 728
Poster: Daclatasvir and asunaprevir in non-Japanese Asian patients with chronic HCV genotype 1b infection who are ineligible for or intolerant to interferon-alfa therapies with or without ribavirin: Phase 3 SVR12 interim results

Session: Late-breaking Poster Session
Date: November 16, 2015
Session Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Presenters available: 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Poster Hall
Publication Number: LB-18
Poster: Impact of Daclatasvir-Sofosbuvir Combination Treatment on Medical Events and Costs in Patients Infected with Genotype 3 Hepatitis C Virus
Session: Cost-Effectiveness and Economics of Care
Date: November 16, 2015
Presentation Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Poster Hall
Publication Number: 1456
Poster: Cost-effectiveness of Daclatasvir in Combination with Sofosbuvir for the Treatment of Subjects with Genotype 3 Chronic Hepatitis C Infection in the United States
Session: Cost-Effectiveness and Economics of Care
Date: November 16, 2015
Presentation Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Poster Hall
Publication Number: 1461
About Bristol-Myers Squibb in HCV

Bristol-Myers Squibb’s research efforts are focused on advancing compounds to deliver the most value to HCV patients with high unmet needs. At the core of our portfolio isDaklinza, a NS5A complex inhibitor which continues to be investigated in multiple treatment regimens and in patients with high disease burden.

In July 2014, Japan became the first country in the world to approve the use of aDaklinza-based regimen for the treatment of chronic HCV. Since then, Daklinza-based regimens have been approved in more than 50 countries, including the United States, across Europe, and in numerous other countries in Central and South America, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.

Indication and Important Safety Information - Daklinza™ (daclatasvir)

INDICATION

Daklinza™ (daclatasvir) is indicated for use with sofosbuvir for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3 infection.

Limitations of Use:
Sustained virologic response (SVR) rates are reduced in HCV genotype 3-infected patients with cirrhosis receiving Daklinza in combination with sofosbuvir for 12 weeks.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

CONTRAINDICATIONS
Drugs Contraindicated with Daklinza: strong inducers of CYP3A that may lead to loss of efficacy of Daklinza include, but are not limited to:
Phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifampin, St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum).

WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS

-- Risk of Adverse Reactions or Loss of Virologic Response Due to Drug Interactions: Coadministration of Daklinza and other drugs may result in known or potentially significant drug interactions. Interactions may include the loss of therapeutic effect of Daklinza and possible development of resistance, dosage adjustments for other agents or Daklinza, possible clinically significant adverse events from greater exposure for the other agents or Daklinza.
Serious Symptomatic Bradycardia When Coadministered with Sofosbuvir and Amiodarone: Post-marketing cases of symptomatic bradycardia and cases requiring pacemaker intervention have been reported when amiodarone is coadministered with sofosbuvir in combination with another direct-acting antiviral, including Daklinza. A fatal cardiac arrest was reported with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir.
Coadministration of amiodarone with Daklinza in combination with sofosbuvir is not recommended. For patients taking amiodarone who have no alternative treatment options, patients should undergo cardiac monitoring, as outlined in Section 5.2 of the prescribing information.
Bradycardia generally resolved after discontinuation of HCV treatment.
Patients also taking beta blockers or those with underlying cardiac comorbidities and/or advanced liver disease may be at increased risk for symptomatic bradycardia with coadministration of amiodarone.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
The most common adverse reactions were (≥ 5%): headache (14%), fatigue (14%), nausea (8%), and diarrhea (5%).

DRUG INTERACTIONS
CYP3A: Daklinza is a substrate. Moderate or strong inducers may decrease plasma levels and effect of Daklinza. Strong inhibitors (e.g., clarithromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, ritonavir) may increase plasma levels of Daklinza.
P-gp, OATP 1B1 and 1B3, and BCRP: Daklinza is an inhibitor, and may increase exposure to substrates, potentially increasing or prolonging their adverse effect.
See Section 7 of the Full Prescribing Information for additional established and other potentially significant drug interactions and related dose modification recommendations.

Daklinza in Pregnancy: No data with Daklinza in pregnant women are available to inform a drug-associated risk. Animal studies of Daklinza at exposure above the recommended human dose have shown maternal and embryofetal toxicity. Consider the benefits and risks of Daklinza when prescribing Daklinza to a pregnant woman.

Nursing Mothers: Daklinza was excreted into the milk of lactating rats; it is not known if Daklinza is excreted into human milk. Consider the benefits and risks to the mother and infant when breastfeeding.

Please click here for the Daklinza full prescribing information

About Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information please visit www.bms.com or follow us on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/bmsnews.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Forward Looking Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect Bristol-Myers Squibb's business, particularly those identified in the cautionary factors discussion in Bristol-Myers Squibb's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Bristol-Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.