An all-oral, interferon-free, 12- or 24-week regimen of sofosbuvir and ribavirin cured between 67 and 88 percent of those coinfected with HIV and genotypes 1, 2 or 3 of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a recent advanced trial. Representatives from Gilead Sciences presented findings from the “PHOTON-1” Phase III open-label study of the nucleotide analogue sofosbuvir at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) in Washington, DC.

In one arm of the study, 114 coinfected participants with genotype 1 of hep C received 24 weeks of therapy. Seventy-six percent (87) achieved a sustained virologic response 12 weeks after completing therapy (SVR12, considered a cure).

In another branch of the study, 26 coinfected participants with genotype 2 of hep C and 42 coinfected participants with genotype 3 received 12 weeks of treatment. Eighty-eight percent (23) of the genotype 2 participants and 67 percent (28) of the genotype 3 participants achieved an SVR12.

Three percent of those receiving 24 weeks of therapy discontinued therapy because of adverse side effects, as did 4 percent of those receiving 12 weeks of therapy. The most common side effects were in line with ribavirin’s safety profile, including fatigue, nausea, headache and insomnia.

To read a Gilead release on the trial, click here.