No abstract

Natural resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) are reported with highly variable prevalence across different HCV genotypes (GTs). Frequency of natural RASs in a large Italian real-life cohort of patients infected with the 4 main HCV-GTs was investigated. NS3, NS5A and NS5B sequences were analysed in 1445 HCV-infected DAA-naïve patients. Sanger-sequencing was performed by home-made protocols on 464 GT1a, 585 GT1b, 92 GT2c, 199 GT3a, 16 GT4a and 99 GT4d samples. Overall, 20.7% (301/1455) of patients showed natural RASs, and the prevalence of multiclass-resistance was 7.3% (29/372 patients analysed). NS3-RASs were particularly common in GT1a and GT1b (45.2-10.8%, respectively), mainly due to 80K presence in GT1a (17%). Almost all GTs showed high prevalence of NS5A-RASs (range: 10.2–45.4%), and especially of 93H (5.1%). NS5A-RASs with fold-change >100x were detected in 6.8% GT1a (30H/R-31M-93C/H), 10.3% GT1b (31V-93H), 28.4% GT2c (28C-31M-93H), 8.5% GT3a (30K-93H), 45.5% GT4a (28M-30R-93H) and 3.8% GT4d (28V-30S-93H). Sofosbuvir RAS 282T was never detected, while the 159F and 316N RASs were found in GT1b (13.4–19.1%, respectively). Natural RASs are common in Italian patients infected with HCV-GTs 1–4. High prevalence of clinically-relevant RASs (such as Y93H) supports the appropriateness of HCV resistance-test to properly guide DAA-based therapy.

No abstract

Preliminary studies on HCV-cirrhotics listed for transplant suggest that Sofosbuvir in combination with Ribavirin is very effective in promoting viral clearance and preventing disease recurrence. Unfortunately, the high cost of such treatment (€46 500 per 12 weeks treatment) makes its cost-effectiveness questionable. A semi-Markov model was developed to assess the cost-effectiveness of Sofosbuvir/Ribavirin treatment in cirrhotic patient without HCC (HCV-CIRRH) and with HCC (HCV-HCC) listed for transplant. In the base-case analysis, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for 24 weeks of Sofosbuvir/Ribavirin was €44 875 per quality-adjusted life-year gained in HCV-CIRRH and €60 380 in HCV-HCC patients. Both results were above the willingness to pay threshold of €37 000 per quality-adjusted life-year. Our data also show that in order to remain cost-effective (with a 24 weeks treatment), any novel interferon-free treatment endowed with ideal efficacy should cost less than €67 224 or than €95 712 in HCV-cirrhotics with and without HCC, respectively. The results shows that Sofosbuvir/Ribavirin therapy, given to patients listed for transplant, is not cost-effective at current prices despite being very effective, and new, more effective treatments will have little economic margins to remain cost-effective. New interferon-free combinations have the potential to revolutionize the treatment and prognosis of HCV-positive patients listed for transplant; however, without sustainable prices, this revolution is unlikely to happen.

No abstract