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Elbasvir/Grazoprevir: A Review in Chronic HCV Genotypes 1 and 4

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Abstract

A fixed-dose combination tablet comprising the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5A inhibitor elbasvir and the HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor grazoprevir (elbasvir/grazoprevir; Zepatier™) was recently approved for the treatment of chronic HCV genotype 1 and 4 infection in the EU and the USA. In phase III trials, 12 or 16 weeks of treatment with once-daily elbasvir/grazoprevir (fixed-dose tablet or as individual agents), taken with or without ribavirin, generally provided high rates of sustained virological response at 12 weeks (SVR12) in treatment-naive and -experienced adult patients with chronic HCV genotype 1a, 1b or 4 infection, including those with or without compensated cirrhosis, HIV co-infection, inherited blood disorders or chronic kidney disease or patients receiving opioid agonist therapy or of Japanese origin. Elbasvir/grazoprevir was generally well tolerated. Thus, elbasvir/grazoprevir, with or without ribavirin, represents an effective new option for the treatment of adults with chronic HCV genotype 1 and 4 infection, including a number of difficult-to-treat populations.

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Acknowledgements

During the peer review process, the manufacturer of elbasvir/grazoprevir was also offered an opportunity to review this article. Changes resulting from comments received were made on the basis of scientific and editorial merit.

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  1. Springer, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, 0754, New Zealand

    Zaina T. Al-Salama & Emma D. Deeks

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  1. Zaina T. Al-Salama
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  2. Emma D. Deeks
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Correspondence to Zaina T. Al-Salama.

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Funding

The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.

Conflict of interest

Zaina T. Al-Salama and Emma D. Deeks are salaried employees of Adis/Springer, are responsible for the article content and declare no relevant conflicts of interest

Additional information

The manuscript was reviewed by: A. Ascione, Department of Internal Medicine, Centre for Liver Disease, Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Naples, Italy; N. Izumi, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red-Cross Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; S. Karatapanis, First Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital of Rhodes, Rhodes, Greece.

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Al-Salama, Z.T., Deeks, E.D. Elbasvir/Grazoprevir: A Review in Chronic HCV Genotypes 1 and 4. Drugs 77, 911–921 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-017-0739-8

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