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Adherence to therapeutic regimens affects the efficacy of peginterferon alfa and ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1. Dr Gordon and colleagues from Michigan, USA determined if medication adherence impacts efficacy with triple therapy that includes boceprevir plus peginterferon and ribavirin. Adherence was determined in 2 Phase 3 clinical studies with boceprevir. Adherence to the assigned duration of the dosing regimen and adherence to the 3 times a day dosing interval of 7–9 hour for boceprevir were assessed by the recording of data from patients’ dosing diaries, and by the amount of study drug dispensed and returned.  | | Patients achieved sustained virological response rates of 86–90% | | Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics |
The team noted that most patients adhered to 80% or more of their assigned treatment duration, and achieved sustained virological response rates of 86–90%. In contrast, patients who adhered to less than 80% of their assigned treatment duration achieved sustained virological response rates of 8–32%, particularly low in patients who failed previous therapy. Different rates of adherence to the t.d.s. dosing interval with boceprevir did not influence the sustained virological response rates with the exception of patients who failed previous treatment, and adhered to less than 60% of the t.d.s. dosing interval with boceprevir. Dr Gordon's team concludes, "The achievement of an sustained virological response is more dependent on adherence to the assigned duration of treatment than adherence to the t.d.s. dosing interval with boceprevir." "Adherence to more than 60% of t.d.s. dosing with boceprevir is important in patients who failed previous therapy."
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