Janssen Inc.’s simeprevir, brand name Galexos, in combination with peginterferon/ribavirin was just approved by BC’s PharmaCare for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 in patients with or without compensated cirrhosis and who have:
- never tried to treat their hepatitis C
OR - tried treatment but the virus came back
OR - tried treatment but weren’t cured
AND
Who have ALL of the following:
- Lab-confirmed hepatitis C genotype 1
- A prescription for the treatment from a qualified healthcare provider
- Detectable levels of hep C in the last 6 months
- Recent lab-confirmation of NS3 Q80K polymorphism negative for patients with hep C genotype 1a subtype or genotype 1 with indeterminate subtype. Retesting is required for all those who had their genotype tested before May 1, 2012.
- A liver fibrosis stage F2 or greater
BUT
Who have NOT been or ARE NOT being treated with a protease inhibitor.
Please ask your healthcare provider for more information about simeprevir (Galexos) in combination with peginterferon/ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV) and about other hep C treatments.
For more information about currently approved hep C treatments in BC, emerging treatments, the drug approval process in Canada and BC, or hep C support programs, please visit PHCN’s Hepatitis C Treatment Information Project or email [email protected].
The original post can be found on Hepatitis C Treatment Information Project’s news blog titled “PharmaCare Approves Simeprevir PegIFN/RBV Combination.”
The post PharmaCare Approves Simeprevir PegIFN/RBV Combo appeared first on Pacific Hepatitis C Network.