01/10/2020 Direct-acting antiviral agents for treating genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C
The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has recommended:
- Sofosbuvir 400 mg/velpatasvir 100 mg tablet for treating genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C infection in treatment-naïve, or pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (PR)-experienced, or NS3/4A protease inhibitor (boceprevir, simeprevir, telaprevir)-experienced adults.
- Glecaprevir 100 mg/pibrentasvir 40 mg tablet for treating genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C infection in treatment-naïve, or pegylated interferon plus ribavirin (with or without sofosbuvir)-experienced, or sofosbuvir plus ribavirin-experienced adults.
Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir and glecaprevir/pibrentasvir should be used in line with the recommended treatment regimens listed in the Annex.
Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir and glecaprevir/pibrentasvir should be prescribed by a specialist physician (gastroenterologist, hepatologist, or infectious disease specialist) with experience in the treatment of hepatitis C.
The supplier of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir will provide retreatment with sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir to patients who fail to achieve a sustained virological response with sofosbuvir/velpatasvir through their No Cure No Pay program, at no additional cost.
Subsidy status
RSofosbuvir 400mg/velpatasvir 100 mg tablet and glecaprevir 100 mg/pibrentasvir 40 mg tablet are recommended for inclusion on the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF), for the abovementioned indications.
NRMAF assistance does not apply to other direct-acting antivirals (asunaprevir, ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir+dasabuvir, sofosbuvir/ledipasvir, elbasvir/grazoprevir and daclatasvir).