Michael P. Manns, Chi-Jen Chu, Stephanie Noviello, William J. Towner, William Sievert, Boris Yoffe, Eric Hughes, Gregory T. Everson, Misti Linaberry, Guido Gerken, Marc Bourlière, Patricia Mendez, Jeong Heo, Ira M. Jacobson, Sophie Metivier, Patrick Marcellin, Cheng Yuan Peng, Youn-Jae Lee, Justin Kopit, Jean-Pierre Bronowicki, Stanislas Pol, Fiona McPhee, Stuart C. Gordon, Dominique Thabut, Ting-Tsung Chang, Jia-Horng Kao, Dept. of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School [Hannover] (MHH), German Center for Infection Research - partner site Hannover-Braunschweig (DZIF), Institut Cochin (IC UM3 (UMR 8104 / U1016)), Université Paris Descartes - Paris 5 (UPD5)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Weill Medical College of Cornell University [New York], Hôpital Beaujon, Hôpital Beaujon [AP-HP], Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (AP-HP)-Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (AP-HP)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7), Henry Ford Health System, China Medical University Taichung, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), University of Colorado [Denver], Pusan National University, Universität Duisburg-Essen [Essen], Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Baylor University, Kaiser Permanente, Service d'hépato-gastro-entérologie, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille (APHM), Hôpital Purpan [Toulouse], CHU Toulouse [Toulouse], Taipei Veterans General Hospital [Taiwan], National Yang-Ming University [Taipei, Taiwan], Monash University [Clayton], Nutrition-Génétique et Exposition aux Risques Environnementaux (NGERE), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Université de Lorraine (UL), Service d'Hépato-Gastro-Entérologie [CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière], CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière [AP-HP], Sorbonne Université (SU)-Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (AP-HP)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (AP-HP), Inje University, National Taiwan University Hospital, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb., Hôpital Beaujon-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (APHP), Université de Lorraine (UL)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie [CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière], and Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (APHP)-CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière [APHP]
Summary Background An unmet need exists for interferon-free and ribavirin-free treatments for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In this study, we assessed all-oral therapy with daclatasvir (NS5A replication complex inhibitor) plus asunaprevir (NS3 protease inhibitor) in patients with genotype 1b infection, including those with high unmet needs or cirrhosis, or both. Methods We did this phase 3, multicohort study (HALLMARK-DUAL) at 116 sites in 18 countries between May 11, 2012, and Oct 9, 2013. Patients were adults with chronic HCV genotype 1b infection who were treatment-naive; previous non-responders to peginterferon alfa plus ribavirin; or medically ineligible for, previously intolerant of, or ineligible for and intolerant of peginterferon alfa plus ribavirin. Treatment-naive patients were randomly assigned (2:1 ratio) by an interactive voice-response system with a computer-generated random allocation sequence (stratified by cirrhosis status) to receive daclatasvir 60 mg once daily plus asunaprevir 100 mg twice daily or placebo for 12 weeks. Patients and investigator sites were masked to treatment assignment and HCV RNA results to the end of week 12. The treatment-naive group assigned to daclatasvir plus asunaprevir continued open-label treatment to the end of week 24; participants assigned to placebo entered another daclatasvir plus asunaprevir study. Non-responders and ineligible, intolerant, or ineligible and intolerant patients received open-label daclatasvir plus asunaprevir for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was sustained virological response at post-treatment week 12. Efficacy analyses were restricted to patients given daclatasvir plus asunaprevir. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01581203. Findings This study included 307 treatment-naive patients (205 received daclatasvir plus asunaprevir and 102 received placebo; all randomly assigned patients received the intended treatment), 205 non-responders, and 235 ineligible, intolerant, or ineligible and intolerant patients. Daclatasvir plus asunaprevir provided sustained virological response in 182 (90%, 95% CI 85–94) patients in the treatment-naive cohort, 168 (82%, 77–87) in the non-responder cohort, and 192 (82%, 77–87) in the ineligible, intolerant, or ineligible and intolerant cohort. Serious adverse events occurred in 12 (6%) patients in the treatment-naive group; 11 (5%) non-responders, and 16 (7%) ineligible, intolerant, or ineligible and intolerant patients; adverse events leading to discontinuation (most commonly reversible increases in alanine or aspartate aminotransferase) occurred in six (3%), two (1%), and two (1%) patients, respectively, with no deaths recorded. Grade 3 or 4 laboratory abnormalities were uncommon, with low incidences of aminotransferase increases during the first 12 weeks with daclatasvir plus asunaprevir and placebo in treatment-naive patients (≤2% each). Interpretation Daclatasvir plus asunaprevir provided high sustained virological response rates in treatment-naive, non-responder, and ineligible, intolerant, or ineligible and intolerant patients, and was well tolerated in patients with HCV genotype 1b infection. These results support the use of daclatasvir plus asunaprevir as an all-oral, interferon-free and ribavirin-free treatment option for patients with HCV genotype 1b infection, including those with cirrhosis. Funding Bristol-Myers Squibb.