EFFICACY AND COST EFFECTIVENESS OF BIOSIMILAR PEGYLATED INTERFERON α2a 180 µg/RIBAVIRIN IN NON-CIRRHOTIC TREATMENT NAÏVE GENOTYPE 3 PATIENTS

Abstract

Background: Due to poor socio-economic status majority of the patients cannot afford the cost of investigations and treatment of chronic active hepatitis C which has compelled the local physicians to find cost effective ways of managing chronically infected hepatitis C patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of biosimilar pegylated interferon α2a 180 μg and weight-based ribavirin, compared to pegylated interferon and ribavirin in treatment naïve GT3 patients. Methods: A total of 45 patients were recruited for the study out of which 39 patients completed the study protocol at Hepatology Clinic of Gujranwala Liver Foundation, Siddique Sadiq Hospital, Sheikhupura Road, Gujranwala, from Nov 2012 to Apr 2014. Patients with history of previous interferon-based therapy, liver cirrhosis, non GT3, hepatitis B co-infection, and organ transplant recipients were excluded. All patients were treated with biosimilar pegylated interferon α2a 180 μg and weight-based ribavirin in a response guided manner. Results: Out of the 39 patients who completed the study as per protocol, 92.3% achieved sustained virological SVR. Relapse rate was 13.1% and non-responders were 6%. Conclusion: Biosimilar pegylated interferon α2a 180 μg/ Ribavirin had a high SVR rate in carefully selected treatment naïve GT 3 non-cirrhotic patients. The results are comparable to Direct Acting Antiviral agent (DAA) which has higher cost.

Pak J Physiol 2016;12(1):26–8