Gilead’s Harvoni ‘effective in treating patients with hepatitis C and HIV’

Gilead Sciences has announced new data from a clinical trial of its drug Harvoni, showing its efficacy in the treatment of hepatitis C patients co-infected with HIV.

The phase III study, ION-4, evaluated the once-daily ledipasvir/sofosbuvir single tablet regimen in the treatment of genotypes 1 or 4 chronic hepatitis C among patients co-infected with HIV. A total of 335 patients were involved in the trial.

It was revealed that 96 percent of patients were able to achieve a sustained virologic response 12 weeks after completing therapy, meaning they were considered cured of hepatitis C.

This new data adds to the body of clinical evidence supporting Harvoni, which received European regulatory approval in November 2014.

Dr Susanna Naggie, director of infectious disease research at the Duke Clinical Research Institute and principal investigator for the ION-4 study, said: "This trial provides strong evidence that people who are co-infected with HIV can achieve very high rates of hepatitis C cure with a combination direct-acting antiviral regimen."

This comes after clinical data emerged earlier this week from a study showing the effectiveness of Gilead's Truvada in helping men who have sex with men to protect themselves against HIV exposure.