Effectiveness and safety of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in chronic hepatitis C patients: Results of the Italian cohort of a post-marketing observational study

Aghemo A.;Alberti A.;Andreone P.;Angelico M.;Brunetto M. R.;Chessa L.;Ciancio A.;Craxi A.;Gaeta G. B.;Galli M.;Gasbarrini A.;Giorgini A.;Grilli E.;Lampertico P.;Lichtner M.;Milella M.;Morisco F.;Persico M.;Pirisi M.;Puoti M.;Raimondo G.;Romano A.;Russello M.;Sangiovanni V.;Schiavini M.;Serviddio G.;Villa E.;Vinci M.;De Michina A.;Gallinaro V.;Gualberti G.;Roscini A. S.;Zignego A. L.

2021-01-01

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Abstract

Background and Aims: The MARS post-marketing, observational study evaluates glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in a large population of Italian patients who are infected with HCV. Patients and Methods: Achievement of SVR12 was the primary endpoint in the overall population and by subpopulations of interest (treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced patients, subjects infected with different HCV genotype/sub-genotype, cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients, patients with different severity of fibrosis, patients with an APRI score ≥1, subjects with comorbidities, HIV-coinfected patients, elderly patients and people who use drugs). Safety and quality of life (assessed by SF-36 and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment) were also evaluated. Results: The SVR12 rate was 99.4% (319/321; 95% CI: 97.8–99.8%) in the core population with sufficient follow-up (n = 321), 99.7% (318/319) in 8-week treated patients, and high (>96%) across subgroups. Only three patients (0.9%) had treatment-related adverse events that led to treatment discontinuation. In total, 30.1% of patients showed an improvement of ≥2.5 points in the Physical Component Summary of the SF-36 from baseline to the end of treatment, and this figure raised to 37.5% with the achievement of SVR12. Corresponding values for MCS were 42.2% and 42.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir is safe and effective across subpopulations who are underserved in clinical trials.