Results from a small study of 62 co-infected people treated with Incivek showed that 74% had undetectable viral loads at 12 weeks after stopping their hepatitis C treatment, compared to 45% on pegylated interferon + ribavirin alone. About one-quarter were not on HIV treatment (13) while most (47) were taking Atripla or boosted Reyataz (atazanavir) + Truvada (Viread/tenofovir + Emtriva/emtricitabine).
Incivek + pegylated interferon + ribavirin was given for the first 12 weeks, and then interferon + ribavirin only for the next 36 weeks. The average age of the participants was 45, and only 15% were women. Most people had HCV viral loads above 800,000, while 10% had advanced liver fibrosis. Nearly 68% had HCV genotype 1a while the others had 1b, both of which are more difficult to treat types.
The following chart describes 12-week post-treatment undetectable HCV viral loads (T/PR = Incivek + pegylated interferon + ribavirin):
| Â | No HIV meds | Atripla | Reyataz | Total | ||||
| Undet. HCV | T/PR | PR | T/PR | PR | T/PR | PR | T/PR | PR |
| 4 wks | 71% | 0% | 75% | 12% | 60% | 0% | 68% | 5% |
| 12 wks | 86% | 33% | 88% | 25% | 73% | 38% | 82% | 32% |
| 24 wks | 86% | 0% | 75% | 50% | 67% | 75% | 74% | 55% |
| 12 wks post | 71% | 33% | 69% | 50% | 80% | 50% | 74% | 45% |
The following details should be noted about this study:
- 25 people had stopped HCV treatment by week 48.
- Those who took Sustiva had their Incivek dose increased to 1,125mg from 750mg due to known interaction between the two drugs.
- Despite undetectable HCV viral loads at week 48, three people had their HCV levels return.
- CD4 counts tended to decrease in everyone, a common response to HCV treatment in co-infection. However, the CD4% did not change.
- No one experienced detectable HIV viral load.
- High rates of side effects were seen in the Incivek group, including: headache (37%), nausea (34%), rash (34%), itching (39%), fever (21%), anemia (18%), and depression (21%).
Larger studies will be conducted. These will include people new to HCV treatment, people who rebounded after HCV treatment, partial responders, and non-responders.