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- TECHNIVIE provides an opportunity to treat adults who have genotype 4 (GT4) chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection without cirrhosis, a population historically considered difficult–to-treat
- TECHNIVIE is the first and only all-oral, interferon-free, direct-acting antiviral treatment approved in Canada for adult patients with GT4 chronic HCV infection
- Approval is supported by a Phase II clinical trial of 135 chronic HCV GT4 patients, which demonstrated 100 percent sustained virologic response rates at 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12) in patients who took TECHNIVIE with ribavirin (RBV)
MONTREAL, Nov. 24, 2015 /CNW/ – AbbVie, a global, biopharmaceutical company, today announced that Health Canada granted a Notice of Compliance (NoC) to TECHNIVIE (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir tablets) in combination with ribavirin (RBV) for the treatment of adults with genotype 4 (GT4) chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection without cirrhosis who are either treatment naïve or previously treated with peginterferon and ribavirin.
“Over the last several years, there has been a major focus on hepatitis C genotype 1 disease. The optimal protocol for treating hepatitis C genotype 4 patients was not well defined. As a practicing hepatologist, I am thrilled that finally there is a cure for people living with hepatitis C genotype 4, which is relatively hard to eradicate,” explains Dr. Magdy Elkhashab, Gastroenterologist/Hepatologist, Director of the Toronto Liver Centre. “This new therapy, which is given orally, can cure the disease in genotype 4 patients in almost 100% of cases. These are really exciting times. When I started my practice 20 years ago, I saw cure rates of 4 to 6%. I can truly say that I have seen the whole hepatitis C story unfold.”
HCV GT4 has historically been difficult to treat. Egypt has the highest prevalence with more than 90% of infections due to genotype 4. Genotype 4 has been spreading in several Western countries, including Canada, due to variations in population structure, immigration, routes of transmission, travel and tourism. 1,2
“The approval of TECHNIVIE by Health Canada is further proof of AbbVie’s ongoing commitment to help address the burden of hepatitis C. We are determined to provide best-in-class solutions for people living with hepatitis C in Canada, especially through our support program AbbVie Care,” said Stéphane Lassignardie, general manager, AbbVie Canada.
Virologic cure is defined as a sustained virologic response (SVR), which is when the virus is no longer detectable in the patient’s blood 12 weeks after treatment (SVR12).3
About the PEARL-I Study
This approval of TECHNIVIE is based on data from the PEARL-I study, which demonstrated 100 percent sustained virologic response rates at 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12) in patients who received TECHNIVIE and RBV for 12 weeks. PEARL-I is an open-label Phase 2b study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of TECHNIVIE in GT4 chronic HCV patients without cirrhosis. The study included GT4 patients who were new to therapy (n=42/42) or who had failed previous treatment with pegylated interferon (pegIFN) and RBV (n=49/49). Additionally, 91 percent of patients who were new to therapy achieved SVR12 (n=40/44) after taking TECHNIVIE without RBV. In the treatment-naïve group without RBV, on-treatment virologic failure was reported in one patient (two percent), and two patients (five percent) experienced post-treatment relapse. There were no virologic failures in the other treatment arms.
There were no discontinuations due to adverse events in these patients. The most commonly reported treatment-emergent adverse events (greater than 10 percent) observed in patients receiving TECHNIVIE with RBV were asthenia, fatigue, and headache.
About TECHNIVIE
TECHNIVIE is an all-oral antiviral treatment consisting of the fixed-dose combination of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (12.5/75/50 mg) taken as 2 tablets once daily and taken with food, which is co-administered with weight-based RBV (1000mg or 1200mg in divided doses, twice daily), taken with food. The combination of two direct-acting antivirals, each with distinct mechanisms of action, targets and inhibits specific HCV proteins in the viral replication process.
About AbbVie Care
Canadians prescribed TECHNIVIE will have the opportunity to be enrolled in AbbVie Care, AbbVie’s signature care program. AbbVie Care provides support to people living with hepatitis C. The program is designed to provide a wide range of customized services including reimbursement and financial support, pharmacy services coordination with pharmacies trained in hepatitis C, lab work reminders and coordination, personalized education and ongoing disease management support throughout the treatment and beyond.
For more information, call 1-844-471-CARE (2273) or consult www.abbviecare.ca.
Read the complete press release here, which includes safety information: http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/abbvies-technivie-receives-health-canada-approval-for-genotype-4-chronic-hepatitis-c-infection-553141181.html