High efficacy of generic and brand direct acting antivirals in treatment of chronic hepatitis C

Abstract

Generic and brand DAAs are equally effective for achieving SVR and improving aminotransferases.

EASL recommendations on treatment of hepatitis C: Final update of the series☆

“…Generic drugs and their combinations produced by companies under the license of the Medicines Patent Pool and prequalified by WHO and/or other regulatory authorities have been shown to generate similar results to the original compounds, with similar safety and tolerability. [157][158][159][160][161][162][163][164][165][166][167] The panel recognises the heterogeneity of per capita incomes and health insurance systems across Europe and in other regions, and therefore the constraints that may necessitate continued utilisation of regimens described in previous versions of these recommendations but no longer recommended. In settings where none of the IFN-free, ribavirin-free options proposed in this document are available, options proposed in previous versions of these recommendations remain acceptable for patients likely to respond to these regimens until new DAAs become available and affordable; see prior EASL Recommendations on Treatment of Hepatitis C. 120,[168][169][170][171] In particular, in many lowand middle-income countries where the pangenotypic DAA combinations recommended in the present document are not available and/or not affordable, the combination of generic sofosbuvir and daclatasvir is safe and well tolerated and provides high SVR rates at a very low price.…”

Hepatitis C Virus in Egypt: Interim Report From the World’s Largest National Program

“…The availability of locally manufactured generic DAAs, which proved comparable with the brand name DAAs in safety and efficacy, led to more accessibility, further reduction in price, and rapid treatment uptake. Patients’ investigations and treatment were fully funded by the state irrespective of financial ability or insurance coverage.…”

The changing epidemiology of hepatitis B and C infections in Nanoro, rural Burkina Faso: a random sampling survey

“…Elimination of hepatitis B infection can achieve in a particular country when national government started to develop and implement efficacious strategies including free children vaccination against HBV, case detection and treatment with effective drugs [12,13]. Elimination of HCV is also envisioned since highly effective direct antiviral agents (DAA) are now available in low-income countries and are reported to cure infection within 10 to 12 weeks of treatment [14,15].…”