AbbVie’s investigational triple combination hepatitis C therapy cured an average of 98 percent of those with genotype 1b of the virus. Designated as a “breakthrough therapy” by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the direct acting antivirals ABT-450/r, ABT-267 and ABT-333 were studied in various combinations and for various durations both with and without ribavirin among 190 study participants. Investigators presented results from the study at the 23rd Conference of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver in Singapore.

The study participants, all of whom had genotype 1b of the virus, were divided into nine groups. One group of 24 treatment-naive participants took the triple combo with ribavirin for eight weeks; 96 percent achieved a sustained virologic response 24 weeks after completing therapy, or SVR, which is considered a cure. Four groups ranging in size between 12 and 25 treatment-naive participants took therapy for 12 weeks: Three groups took ABT-450/r and left out either ABT-267, ABT-333 or ribavirin; and the fourth group took all those drugs. All members of these four groups achieved an SVR. Another group of 25 treatment-naive participants took all the drugs for 24 weeks; 96 percent of them were cured.

Two groups of prior null responders to treatment took therapy for 12 weeks, with one group taking all the drugs, and another taking all drugs but ABT-333. All of these 36 participants were cured. A last group of 16 prior null responders took all the drugs, with 100 percent achieving an SVR 12 weeks after completing therapy and 94 percent doing so 24 weeks after completing therapy.

To read the conference poster, click here.