Boceprevir with peginterferon alfa-2a-ribavirin is effective for previously treated chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013 Jan;11(1):81-87.e4; quiz e5. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2012.10.006. Epub 2012 Oct 10.

Abstract

Background & aims: The addition of boceprevir to therapy with peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin results in significantly higher rates of sustained virologic response (SVR) in previously treated patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype-1 infection, compared with peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin alone. We assessed SVR with boceprevir plus peginterferon alfa-2a-ribavirin (PEG2a/R) in patients with identical study entry criteria.

Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 201 patients with HCV genotype-1 who had relapsed or not responded to previous therapy were assigned to groups (1:2) and given a 4-week lead-in phase of PEG2a/R, followed by placebo plus PEG2a/R for 44 weeks (PEG2a/R) or boceprevir plus PEG2a/R for 44 weeks (BOC/PEG2a/R). The primary end point was SVR 24 weeks after therapy ended.

Results: The addition of boceprevir after 4 weeks of lead-in therapy with PEG2a/R significantly increased the rate of SVR from 21% in the PEG2a/R group to 64% in the BOC/PEG2a/R group (P < .0001). Among patients with poor response to interferon therapy (<1-log(10) decline in HCV RNA at week 4), 39% in the BOC/PEG2a/R group had SVRs, compared with none of the patients in the PEG2a/R group. Among patients with good response to interferon (≥1-log(10) decline), 71% in the BOC/PEG2a/R group had SVRs, compared with 25% in the PEG2a/R group. A ≥1-log(10) decline in HCV RNA at treatment week 4 was the strongest independent predictor of SVR, exceeding that of IL-28B genotype. Among 8 patients who began the study with HCV amino acid variants associated with boceprevir resistance, 3 (38%) achieved SVRs. Fifty percent of patients in the BOC/PEG2a/R group developed anemia (hemoglobin <10.0 g/dL), compared with 27% in the PEG2a/R group; 43% vs 21%, respectively, developed neutropenia (neutrophil count <750/mm(3)).

Conclusions: The addition of boceprevir after 4 weeks of lead-in therapy with PEG2a/R caused significantly higher rates of SVR in previously treated patients with chronic HCV genotype-1 infection, compared with patients given only PEG2a/R. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00845065.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Hepacivirus / classification
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / virology
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Placebos / administration & dosage
  • Polyethylene Glycols / administration & dosage*
  • Proline / administration & dosage
  • Proline / analogs & derivatives*
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Ribavirin / administration & dosage*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Placebos
  • RNA, Viral
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • N-(3-amino-1-(cyclobutylmethyl)-2,3-dioxopropyl)-3-(2-((((1,1-dimethylethyl)amino)carbonyl)amino)-3,3-dimethyl-1-oxobutyl)-6,6-dimethyl-3-azabicyclo(3.1.0)hexan-2-carboxamide
  • Proline
  • peginterferon alfa-2a

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00845065