Evaluation of Unipeg® for Response and Ongoing Safety in Pakistani Population

Summary

Hepatitis C is a global problem, prevalent in developed as well as in the developing countries. New treatment regimens using PegInterferon in combination with ribavirin has led to improved sustained viral response rates for some genotypes. A single arm, open labeled, multicentre trial was conducted to evaluate the response rate and safety of PegInterferon alfa-2a (Unipeg®) plus ribavirin (Ribazole®) for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. RVR at 4 weeks, ETR at 24 weeks for genotype 3 and at 48 weeks for genotype 1 patients and SVR was determined at 24 weeks after completion of treatment. Quality of life at baseline and at follow-up visits were determined using SF-36.

Timeline

Start

2010-08

Primary completion

2012-09

Completion

2014-09

Publications

• Background Chander G, Sulkowski MS, Jenckes MW, Torbenson MS, Herlong HF, Bass EB, Gebo KA. Treatment of chronic hepatitis C: a systematic review. Hepatology. 2002 Nov;36(5 Suppl 1):S135-44. doi: 10.1053/jhep.2002.37146.
• Background Abbas Z, Jeswani NL, Kakepoto GN, Islam M, Mehdi K, Jafri W. Prevalence and mode of spread of hepatitis B and C in rural Sindh, Pakistan. Trop Gastroenterol. 2008 Oct-Dec;29(4):210-6.
• Background Ali SA, Donahue RM, Qureshi H, Vermund SH. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C in Pakistan: prevalence and risk factors. Int J Infect Dis. 2009 Jan;13(1):9-19. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2008.06.019. Epub 2008 Oct 2.
• Background European Association for Study of Liver. EASL Recommendations on Treatment of Hepatitis C 2015. J Hepatol. 2015 Jul;63(1):199-236. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2015.03.025. Epub 2015 Apr 21. No abstract available.
• Background Idrees M, Riazuddin S. Frequency distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes in different geographical regions of Pakistan and their possible routes of transmission. BMC Infect Dis. 2008 May 23;8:69. doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-8-69.
• Background Hadziyannis SJ, Sette H Jr, Morgan TR, Balan V, Diago M, Marcellin P, Ramadori G, Bodenheimer H Jr, Bernstein D, Rizzetto M, Zeuzem S, Pockros PJ, Lin A, Ackrill AM; PEGASYS International Study Group. Peginterferon-alpha2a and ribavirin combination therapy in chronic hepatitis C: a randomized study of treatment duration and ribavirin dose. Ann Intern Med. 2004 Mar 2;140(5):346-55. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-140-5-200403020-00010.
• Background Ahmad, T., R. Ahsan, and G. Saba. Evaluation of Safety and Pharmacokinetic Behavior of Unipeg® in Healthy Human Volunteers. Journal of Pharmacy and Nutrition Sciences 2014;4.3:220-227

Drugs

Indications