Transplantation Using Hepatitis C Positive Donors, A Safety Trial

Summary

The success of transplantation is significantly hindered by the lack of sufficient number of available donors. Many potential donor organs cannot be utilized in clinical transplantation because donors have chronic viral infections such as hepatitis C (HCV) infection. This study will test the possibility of safely transplanting organs from HCV-infected donors into HCV-uninfected recipients. Prior to transplantation, recipients will receive an initial dose of highly effective antiviral prophylaxis using approved direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir (G/P) and they will also receive ezetimibe, a cholesterol-lowering medication that also blocks entry of HCV into liver cells. They will then receive daily dosing of the same medications for 7 days after transplant. The aim of the study is to show that transplantation of organs from HCV+ donors is safe in the era of DAAs. The investigators hypothesize that rates of HCV transmission to recipients will be prevented by the use of DAA prophylaxis and any HCV transmission that does occur will be readily treatable and curable. If successful, the knowledge from this study can have a large impact to patients with end stage organ diseases by providing a large novel source of donors for organ transplantations.

Timeline

Start

2018-08-06

Primary completion

2020-12-31

Completion

2024-12-31

Publications

• Feld JJ, Cypel M, Kumar D, Dahari H, Pinto Ribeiro RV, Marks N, Kamkar N, Bahinskaya I, Onofrio FQ, Zahoor MA, Cerrochi O, Tinckam K, Kim SJ, Schiff J, Reichman TW, McDonald M, Alba C, Waddell TK, Sapisochin G, Selzner M, Keshavjee S, Janssen HLA, Hansen BE, Singer LG, Humar A. Short-course, direct-acting antivirals and ezetimibe to prevent HCV infection in recipients of organs from HCV-infected donors: a phase 3, single-centre, open-label study. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020 Jul;5(7):649-657. doi: 10.1016/S2468-1253(20)30081-9. Epub 2020 May 6.

Drugs

Indications