CATIE HepCinfo Update 6.17

Hep C Info UpdatesNew and Noteworthy

Daclatasvir approved in Canada

The Hep C drug daclatasvir (Daklinza) has been approved in Canada for people with genotype 1 or 2 virus. It has also been conditionally approved for people with genotype 3 virus pending the outcome of a late-stage clinical trial.

Daclatasvir is taken with sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) for 12 weeks for people with genotype 1 or 3 virus who do not have severe liver injury (cirrhosis). People with genotype 2 virus and people with genotype 1 or 3 virus with cirrhosis take daclatasvir and sofosbuvir for 24 weeks.

This is the first combination for people with genotype 3 virus that does not include ribavirin. (marketwatch.com, August 2015, in English)

CATIE News: People living with hepatitis C in Canada have a high level of need for Hep C information

People living with Hep C want more information about treatment and how to take care of themselves, according to a Canadian needs assessment completed by CATIE in 2014-2015.

The goal of the needs assessment was to provide information on the knowledge needs of people who are engaged in Hep C care and how these needs can be met.

A total of 326 people participated in an online survey. They were recruited from eight clinics in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.

The research showed a substantial need for hepatitis C information, with 85% of participants reporting needing Hep C information. This was higher for Aboriginal people compared to non-Aboriginal people.

The highest priority topics for general information were:

  • how hepatitis C affects the body
  • staying healthy
  • how to prevent transmitting hepatitis C to others
  • treatments for hepatitis C

In general, participants prioritized the internet, pamphlets, and workshops when asked how they would like hepatitis C information delivered.

According to the researchers, “the results of this research can help frontline workers support people living with hepatitis C to engage more directly in decisions about their care.” (catie.ca, August 2015, in English and French)

View infographics highlighting some of the key findings on CATIE’s Facebook page, or read the full report, Room for improvement: Knowledge exchange needs of people living with hepatitis C.

Booster drug in Holkira Pak likely to have dangerous interactions with some recreational drugs

The drug ritonavir, which acts as a booster for one of the drugs in the Holkira Pak combination, could potentially have dangerous drug interactions with some commonly used recreational drugs, according to an expert review published in AIDS.

The authors chose to review the potential for drug interactions with recreational drugs commonly used by gay men with HIV living in the United Kingdom.

Ritonavir does not work directly against Hep C. Instead, it boosts the effect of other medications, such as Hep C medication paritaprevir, by keeping paritaprevir in the body for more time or at higher levels. (Ritonavir has a similar function in anti-HIV combinations.) The boosting mechanism can have a similar effect on the recreational drugs creating a risk for serious side effects or overdose.

The likelihood of a drug interaction with ritonavir was judged to be high for:

  • Ketamine (K, vitamin K, special K)
  • Erectile dysfunction drugs (Viagra, Cialis, Levitra)
  • Benzodiazepines (benzos, Valium, Xanax)

The likelihood of a drug interaction with ritonavir was judged to be moderate for:

  • Crystal methamphetamine (crystal, tina, meth)
  • MDMA (ecstasy, X, mandy)
  • Mephedrone (miaw miaw, plant food, bath salts)

“Clinicians should actively solicit any history of drug use, and provide counselling on toxicity, common adverse effects of substance of abuse, and potential serious drug–drug interactions with antiretrovirals [or Hep C medications] in order to avoid unintentional overdosing or fatal toxicity,” the researchers concluded.