Enhanced adherence to Hep C therapy with higher dose ribavirin formulation

The latest issue of the Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics finds enhanced adherence to HCV therapy with higher dose ribavirin formulation.

Poor adherence to Hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment is an important cause of treatment failure.

Traditional ribavirin 200 mg treatment is associated with a significant daily pill burden.

RibaPak, available as 400 mg and 600 mg ribavirin tablets, offers simplified dosing at 2 pills daily.

Dr Kistler and colleagues from Texas, USA examined whether improved adherence was associated with RibaPak vs. ribavirin.

A greater proportion of RibaPak subjects took 80% of their prescribed doses

Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics

Examining the RibaPak Experience (ADHERE) was a U.S., multi-centre, prospective registry capturing data on adherence with RibaPak vs. ribavirin in adults with Hepatitis C virus.

Adherence was measured by the proportion of subjects remaining on treatment at weeks 4, 12 and 24, by pill counts, and by the proportion of subjects who took 80% or more of their prescribed dose.

A total of 503 patients from 33 sites were included.

The team noted that a greater proportion of ribavirin vs. RibaPak subjects prematurely discontinued treatment.

At 12 and 24 weeks, a greater proportion of RibaPak vs. ribavirin subjects took 80% or more of their prescribed doses.

The team found that for patients who remained on treatment, the mean milligrams missed per day was significantly greater for ribavirin vs. RibaPak at 24 weeks.

Dr Kistler's team concludes, "First line treatment with RibaPak may offer the best prospect for less discontinuation and improved treatment adherence."