NICE guidance - telaprevir for the treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C

Telaprevir in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin is recommended as an option for the treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C in adults with compensated liver disease:

• who are previously untreated or
• in whom previous treatment with interferon alfa (pegylated or non-pegylated) alone or in combination with ribavirin has failed, including people whose condition has relapsed, has partially responded or did not respond

Notes:

• Telaprevir is a peptidomimetic inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease NS3/4A
  • activity of this protease is essential for viral replication and may be partially responsible for the ability of HCV to evade clearance by the immune system
  • Telaprevir has a UK marketing authorisation 'in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for the treatment of genotype-1 chronic HCV in adult patients with compensated liver disease (including cirrhosis) who are treatment naive, or who have been previously treated with interferon alfa (pegylated or non-pegylated) alone or in combination with ribavirin, including relapsers, partial responders and null responders'

Reference:

• 1) NICE (April 2012).Telaprevir for the treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C