A fixed-dose combination of two HCV-fighting drugs, sofosbuvir and velpatasvir.
They are in 1 pill.
It is approved for people with all hepatitis C genotypes (1–6) who are 18 years of age and older.
It is taken once daily, with or without food, for 12 weeks.
In patients with advanced decompensated cirrhosis ribavirin is added twice daily.
Ribavirin causes birth defects and miscarriage, and should not be used by pregnant women or by male partners of pregnant women.
Resistance to some hepatitis C drugs can disappear within months, but it can also last for years and may limit re-treatment options.
Age, gender, and race/ethnicity did not affect cure rates.
With HCV genotypes 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 alone, black patients were as likely as nonblack patients to be cured with 12 weeks of treatment.
Similar cure rates were also seen in black patients and nonblack patients (95% or 261/274) with the harder to treat genotype 3.
Side effects from Epclusa: headache and fatigue, usually mild.
In patients with decompensated cirrhosis, who need to take ribavirin, the most common side effects were mild to moderate fatigue, anemia, nausea, headache, insomnia, and diarrhea.
It cannot be taken with certain HIV drugs, amiodarone, St. John’s Wort, and herbal supplements.
Can be used by people with mild or moderate kidney disease.
The drug remains in the body for months.
Women and their male partners should avoid pregnancy for six months after they have stopped taking ribavirin.