Boceprevir for Chronic HCV Genotype 1 Infection

Abstract

Poordad et al. and Bacon et al. (March 31 issue)^1,2 report improved rates of sustained virologic response among patients with chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) who received boceprevir. Although these rates are similar to those seen among patients who received telaprevir,^3-5 the telaprevir studies did not allow erythropoietin use, so there are important distinctions between the two protease inhibitors. In the boceprevir studies, despite erythropoietin use in 41 to 49% of the patients, 2 to 3% of the patients required treatment discontinuation because of anemia. The telaprevir studies^3-5 showed similar discontinuation rates without erythropoietin use.