Hepatitis C Virus | TreatmentTrends | EU | 2015

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic infections are a leading cause of advanced liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma and are a common reason for liver transplantation in Europe. The recent market entries of Gilead’s Harvoni, Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Daklinza, and Abbvie’s Viekirax +/- Exviera have ushered in the era of interferon-free therapy for chronic HCV infections and have precipitated a shift in the HCV treatment paradigm. With the availability of these new agents and the anticipated market entry of other promising emerging therapies (e.g., Merck & Co.’s grazoprevir/elbasvir) in the near term, patients will potentially have access to many different IFN-free treatment regimens that are safe, tolerable, and efficacious and address the needs of different genotypes and liver disease stages. This report focuses on current and anticipated use of Harvoni, Sovaldi, Daklinza, Viekirax +/- Exviera-based regimens, first-generation DAA-containing regimens, and interferon-based regimens by capturing patient share data, current prescribing trends, and anticipated changes in prescribing and prescribing behavior. In addition, physician opinion and awareness of emerging therapies is assessed, including regimens such as Merck & Co.’s grazoprevir/elbasvir and Gilead’s Sovaldi/GS-5816. For key brands, physician perception of these agents’ strengths and weaknesses, barriers to uptake, and salesforce performance are evaluated. Physician awareness and interest and the potential impact of agents in development are also gauged in this study.