Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

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Summary of CADTH Resources

The landscape of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treatment has changed dramatically in the past few years. Treatment is more effective, more tolerable, and also more costly than ever before.

For many years, standard treatment was pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (PR). This was a combination of injections and oral medications given for up to 48 weeks. About half of patients experienced flu-like symptoms, fatigue, and other side effects related to interferon, and about 1 in 10 had to stop treatment due to side effects.

In 2011, the first direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) became available in Canada. These drugs offered an increase in cure rate, but they still needed to be used in combination with PR therapy.

In 2014, the first interferon-free, all-oral regimens became available in Canada. These new regimens generally have success rates of more than 90% and offer the shorter treatment durations desired by patients. These regimens are also associated with high costs.

Health care decision-makers have turned to CADTH for objective evidence and advice on treatments for CHC infection.