A NS3/4A protease inhibitor
Oral bioavailable inhibitor of the non-structural 3/4 HCV genotype 1 infection.
In combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, is indicated for the treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C in adult patients with compensated liver disease who are treatment naive or who have previously been treatedwit interferon based therapy including responders and relapsed patients.
Not effective in hepatitis C as monotherapy.
24 week total duration is recommended for treatment naive and prior relapsers who achieve undetecable HCV RNA at weeks 4 and 12.
Treatment with 3 drugs for 12 weeks, and an additional 12 or 36 weeks of pegintron and ribavirin is required.
This drug not recommended for patients with moderate to severe liver hepatic impairment.
Associated with a rapid decline in viral levels.
Among patients with chronic HCV infection who had not previously received treatment a regimen of peginterferon, ribavirin plus telaprevir for the first 12 weeks, of a 24 week regimen is not inferior to the same regimen for 48 weeks in patients with undetectable HCV RNA at week four and 12 (Sherman KE et al).