Chen YC, Bernaards C, Kulkarni R, Moreira S, Zhu Y, Chan A, Badman E, Ackrill A, Thommes J, Smith PF. Understanding the effect of the HCV polymerase inhibitor mericitabine on early viral kinetics in the phase 2 JUMP-C and PROPEL studies.
Br J Clin Pharmacol 2014;
78:533-42. [PMID:
24602156 PMCID:
PMC4243904 DOI:
10.1111/bcp.12369]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2013] [Accepted: 02/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS
The aim was to evaluate early viral kinetics in patients receiving mericitabine [hepatitis C virus (HCV) nucleoside polymerase inhibitor] with peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) and ribavirin in two clinical trials (PROPEL and JUMP-C).
METHODS
We examined rapid virological responses (RVRs; week 4 HCV RNA <15 IU ml(-1) ) and complete early virological responses (cEVR; week 12 HCV RNA <15 IU ml(-1) ) in HCV genotype 1/4-infected patients receiving mericitabine (500 or 1000 mg) or placebo twice daily plus peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin.
RESULTS
Among IL28B rs12979860 CC genotype patients receiving 500 or 1000 mg mericitabine or placebo, respectively, RVR rates were 64.3% (95% confidence interval: 38.8-83.7%), 95.1% (83.9-98.7%) and 33.3% (20.2-49.7%), and cEVR rates were 100% (78.5-100%), 100% (91.4-100%) and 80.6% (65.0-90.3%). Among non-CC genotype patients, RVR rates were 26.5% (14.6-43.1%), 52.3% (43.0-61.3%) and 5.7% (2.2-13.8%), and cEVR rates were 76.5% (60.0-87.6%), 84.6% (76.6-90.1%) and 28.6% (19.3-40.1%), respectively. In multiple regression analysis, IL28B genotype (P < 0.0001), mericitabine dose (P < 0.0001) and bodyweight (P = 0.0009) were associated with first-phase (α) slope (change in log10 HCV RNA from baseline to week 1).
CONCLUSIONS
Mericitabine-containing triple therapy reduces the impact of IL28B genotype on RVR and cEVR compared with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin dual therapy. The IL28B genotype, mericitabine dose and bodyweight are the most important factors associated with the α slope, and there is no evidence of a pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction between mericitabine and ribavirin.
Collapse