title: Peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin for 16 or 24 weeks in HCV genotype 2 or 3.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 or 3 have sustained virologic response rates of approximately 80% after receiving treatment with peginterferon and ribavirin for 24 weeks. We conducted a large, randomized, multinational, noninferiority trial to determine whether similar efficacy could be achieved with only 16 weeks of treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin.
  
  
  METHODS
  We randomly assigned 1469 patients with HCV genotype 2 or 3 to receive 180 mug of peginterferon alfa-2a weekly, plus 800 mg of ribavirin daily, for either 16 or 24 weeks. A sustained virologic response was defined as an undetectable serum HCV RNA level (<50 IU per milliliter) 24 weeks after the end of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study failed to demonstrate that the 16-week regimen was noninferior to the 24-week regimen. The sustained virologic response rate was significantly lower in patients treated for 16 weeks than in patients treated for 24 weeks (62% vs. 70%; odds ratio for 16 weeks vs. 24 weeks, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.54 to 0.84; P<0.001). In addition, the rate of relapse (a detectable HCV RNA level during follow-up in patients who had undetectable HCV RNA at the end of treatment) was significantly greater in the 16-week group (31%, vs. 18% in the 24-week group; P<0.001). The sustained virologic response rates in patients with a pretreatment serum HCV RNA level of 400,000 IU per milliliter or less was 82% with the 16-week regimen and 81% with the 24-week regimen. Among patients with a rapid virologic response (an undetectable HCV RNA level by week 4), sustained virologic response rates were 79% in the 16-week group and 85% in the 24-week group (P=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with peginterferon and ribavirin for 16 weeks in patients infected with HCV genotype 2 or 3 results in a lower overall sustained virologic response rate than treatment with the standard 24-week regimen. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00077636 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).
authors.affiliation: Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. mshiffma@vcu.edu
authors.forename: Mitchell L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Shiffman
authors.forename: Fredy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Suter
authors.forename: Bruce R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Bacon
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harley
authors.forename: Ricard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Solá
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Shafran
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barange
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soman
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zeuzem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a