Results from AbbVie's Study of VIEKIRA PAK™ (ombitasvir, paritaprevir, ritonavir tablets; dasabuvir tablets) in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients with HIV-1 Co-Infection (TURQUOISE-I) Published Online in JAMA; Sub-analyses to be Presented at the Annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI)

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Feb. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) today announced that results from part one of the Phase 2 portion of its Phase2/3 open-label study, TURQUOISE-I, in genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) co-infection were published online in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Additional sub-analyses also will be presented in both oral and poster presentations on Feb. 26, at the Annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Seattle, Wash.

As published today in JAMA, and originally presented at The Liver Meeting® 2014, the TURQUOISE-I study showed patients co-infected with genotype 1 (GT1) hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV-1 receiving VIEKIRA PAK™ and ribavirin (RBV) for 12 weeks or 24 weeks achieved sustained virologic response rates 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR₁₂) of 94 percent (n=29/31) and 91 percent (n=29/32), respectively. The SVR₁₂ rates were 91 percent (n=51/56) for subjects with HCV GT1a infection and 100 percent (n=7/7) for those with HCV GT1b infection.

"It is common for people to live with both GT1 chronic HCV and HIV, but data supporting treatment of chronic HCV in these co-infected patients have been limited," said Michael Severino, M.D., executive vice president, research and development and chief scientific officer, AbbVie. "TURQUOISE-I is one of the few dedicated studies looking specifically at this historically difficult-to-treat population and we are proud to offer the HCV community an important new treatment option."

VIEKIRA PAK is contraindicated with efavirenz (Sustiva) because co-administration is poorly tolerated and results in liver enzyme elevations. The ritonavir component of VIEKIRA PAK is an HIV-1 protease inhibitor and can select for HIV-1 protease inhibitor resistance. To reduce this risk, HCV/HIV-1 co-infected patients should also be on a suppressive antiretroviral (ART) drug regimen. The most common adverse events occurring in at least 10 percent of patients in TURQUOISE-I were fatigue (48%), insomnia (19%), nausea (17%), headache (16%), itching (13%), cough (11%), irritability (10%), and yellowing of the eyes (10%).

Sub-analyses of these data will be presented later this week at CROI in oral and poster presentations:

• High SVR Regardless of Time to Suppression with Paritaprevir/r/Ombitasvir & Dasabuvir + RBV
  Oral Presentation #147
  February 26, 2015, 10:30-10:45 p.m. PST, Room 6AB 
  Analysis of time to HCV suppression in HCV/HIV co-infected patients in TURQUOISE-I
• Hematologic Analysis of Paritaprevir/r/Ombitasvir and Dasabuvir + RBV in TURQUOISE-I
  Poster #691
  February 26, 2015, 2:30-4 p.m. PST, Poster Hall 
  In this analysis of the TURQUOISE-I study, certain laboratory values in patients taking paritaprevir/r/ombitasvir and dasabuvir with RBV were examined, including hemoglobin, CD4+ T cells, and lymphocyte count

About TURQUOISE-I 
TURQUOISE-I is an ongoing Phase 2/3, multi-center, randomized, open-label study evaluating the efficacy and safety of VIEKIRA PAK (ombitasvir, paritaprevir, ritonavir (25/150/100 mg once daily) and dasabuvir (250 mg twice daily) with RBV (weight based dosing of 1000 mg or 1200 mg per day divided twice daily) for 12 or 24 weeks in adult patients with chronic GT1 HCV infection with or without compensated liver cirrhosis who are also infected with HIV-1.

Study patients were either new to therapy (treatment-naïve) or had failed previous treatment with pegylated interferon and RBV (treatment-experienced), had a stable immune status (CD4+ counts of ≥200 cells/mm³ or CD4+ % ≥14%). Patients were on a stable HIV-1 ART regimen that included tenofovir disoproxil fumarate plus emtricitabine or lamivudine, administered with ritonavir-boosted atazanavir or raltegravir. Patients on atazanavir stopped the ritonavir component of their HIV-1 ART regimen upon initiating treatment with VIEKIRA PAK + RBV. Atazanavir was taken with the morning dose of VIEKIRA PAK. The ritonavir component of the HIV-1 ART regimen was restarted after completion of treatment with VIEKIRA PAK and RBV. Of the five patients who were non-responders, one experienced virologic failure, one discontinued treatment, one experienced relapse and two patients had evidence of HCV reinfection post-treatment. Based on the results of this study, prescribers should follow the same dosing recommendations for mono-infected patients as outlined in the VIEKIRA PAK prescribing information.

Elevations in total bilirubin were the most common laboratory abnormality, were mainly composed of indirect bilirubin, and were not associated with elevations in commonly measured liver enzymes. Reductions in RBV dose because of anemia or reduced hemoglobin occurred in 10 percent of patients (n=6/63); all six patients achieved SVR₁₂.

About VIEKIRA PAK™  
VIEKIRA PAK™ (ombitasvir, paritaprevir, ritonavir tablets; dasabuvir tablets) has been studied in a broad range of genotype 1 (GT1) patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, ranging from treatment-naïve to some of the most difficult to treat, such as patients with compensated (mild, Child-Pugh A) cirrhosis of the liver, HCV/HIV-1 co-infection, liver transplant recipients with normal hepatic function and mild fibrosis, and those who have failed previous treatment with pegylated interferon (pegIFN) and ribavirin (RBV). VIEKIRA PAK is not recommended in patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B), and is contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C). VIEKIRA PAK consists of the fixed-dose combination of ombitasvir 25mg (an NS5A inhibitor), paritaprevir 150mg (an NS3/4A protease inhibitor), and ritonavir 100mg (an inhibitor of an enzyme that breaks down paritaprevir), dosed once daily with a meal, and dasabuvir 250mg (a non-nucleoside NS5B palm polymerase inhibitor), dosed twice daily with a meal. VIEKIRA PAK is taken for 12 weeks, except in GT1a patients with cirrhosis, who should take it for 24 weeks. Ribavirin should be co-administered in GT1a patients, and in all patients who have cirrhosis or who have received a liver transplant.

Paritaprevir was discovered during the ongoing collaboration between AbbVie and Enanta Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ENTA) for HCV protease inhibitors and regimens that include protease inhibitors. Paritaprevir is being investigated by AbbVie for use in combination with AbbVie's other investigational medicines for the treatment of hepatitis C.

VIEKIRA PAK was granted priority review and designated as a Breakthrough Therapy by the U.S. FDA, a status given to medicines or regimens that may offer substantial improvement over available therapies.

Full Prescribing Information, including the Medication Guide, can be found here.  

Use and Important Safety Information

USE 
VIEKIRA PAK™ (ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir tablets; dasabuvir tablets) is a prescription medicine used with or without ribavirin to treat adults with genotype 1 chronic (lasting a long time) hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, including people who have a certain type of cirrhosis (compensated).

VIEKIRA PAK is not for people with advanced cirrhosis (decompensated). If people have cirrhosis, they should talk to a healthcare provider before taking VIEKIRA PAK.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

When taking VIEKIRA PAK in combination with ribavirin, people should also read the Medication Guide that comes with ribavirin, especially the important pregnancy information.

What is the most important information to know about VIEKIRA PAK? 
VIEKIRA PAK can cause increases in liver function blood test results, especially if people use ethinyl estradiol-containing medicines (such as some birth control products).

• Ethinyl estradiol-containing medicines (combination birth control pills or patches, such as Lo Loestrin® FE, Norinyl®, Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo®, Ortho Evra®; hormonal vaginal rings such as NuvaRing®; and the hormone replacement therapy medicine, Fem HRT®) must be stopped before starting treatment with VIEKIRA PAK. If these medicines are used as a method of birth control, another method must be used during treatment with VIEKIRA PAK, and for about 2 weeks after treatment with VIEKIRA PAK ends. A healthcare provider can provide instruction on when to begin taking ethinyl estradiol-containing medicines.
• A healthcare provider should do blood tests to check liver function during the first 4 weeks of treatment and then as needed.
• A healthcare provider may tell people to stop taking VIEKIRA PAK if signs or symptoms of liver problems develop. A healthcare provider must be notified right away if any of the following symptoms develop or if they worsen during treatment with VIEKIRA PAK: tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or color changes in stools.

VIEKIRA PAK must not be taken if people:

• have severe liver problems
• take any of the following medicines: alfuzosin hydrochloride (Uroxatral®) - carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro®, Tegretol®) - efavirenz (Sustiva®, Atripla®) - ergot containing medicines including ergotamine tartrate (Cafergot®, Migergot®, Ergomar®, Ergostat®, Medihaler®, Wigraine®, Wigrettes®), dihydroergotamine mesylate (D.H.E. 45®, Migranal®), methylergonovine (Ergotrate®, Methergine®) - ethinyl estradiol-containing medicines - gemfibrozil (Lopid®) - lovastatin (Advicor®, Altoprev®, Mevacor®) - midazolam (when taken by mouth) - phenytoin (Dilantin®, Phenytek®) - phenobarbital (Luminal®) - pimozide (Orap®) - rifampin (Rifadin®, Rifamate®, Rifater®, Rimactane®) - sildenafil citrate (Revatio®) when taken for pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) - simvastatin (Zocor®, Vytorin®, Simcor®) - St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) or a product that contains St. John's wort - triazolam (Halcion®)
• have had a severe skin rash after taking ritonavir (Norvir®)

What should people tell a healthcare provider before taking VIEKIRA PAK?

• If they have: liver problems other than HCV infection, HIV infection, or any other medical conditions.
• If they have had a liver transplant. If they take the medicines tacrolimus (Prograf®) or cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®), a healthcare provider should check blood levels, and, if needed, may change the dose of these medicines or how often they are taken, both during and after treatment with VIEKIRA PAK.
• If they are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or if they are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if VIEKIRA PAK will harm a person's unborn baby or pass into breast milk. A healthcare provider should be consulted about the best way to feed a baby if taking VIEKIRA PAK. Pregnant females who have both HCV and HIV infection should talk with a healthcare provider about enrolling in the antiretroviral pregnancy registry.
• About all the medicines they take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines interact with VIEKIRA PAK.
  • A new medicine must not be started without telling a healthcare provider. A healthcare provider will provide instruction on whether it is safe to take VIEKIRA PAK with other medicines.
  • When VIEKIRA PAK is finished, a healthcare provider should be consulted on what to do if one of the usual medicines taken was stopped or if the dose changed during VIEKIRA PAK treatment.

What are the common side effects of VIEKIRA PAK?

• For VIEKIRA PAK used with ribavirin, side effects include tiredness, nausea, itching, skin reactions such as redness or rash, sleep problems, and feeling weak.
• For VIEKIRA PAK used without ribavirin, side effects include nausea, itching, and sleep problems.

These are not all of the possible side effects of VIEKIRA PAK. A healthcare provider should be notified if there is any side effect that is bothersome or that does not go away.

This is the most important information to know about VIEKIRA PAK. For more information, talk with a healthcare provider.

People are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including the Medication Guide.

If people cannot afford their medication, they should contact www.pparx.org for assistance.

About AbbVie
AbbVie is a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott Laboratories. The company's mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to develop and market advanced therapies that address some of the world's most complex and serious diseases. AbbVie employs more than 26,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries. For further information on the company and its people, portfolio and commitments, please visit www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter or view careers on our Facebook or LinkedIn page.

Forward-Looking Statements
Some statements in this news release may be forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements.  AbbVie cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.  Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, challenges to intellectual property, competition from other products, difficulties inherent in the research and development process, adverse litigation or government action, and changes to laws and regulations applicable to our industry.  Additional information about the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect AbbVie's operations is set forth in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," in AbbVie's 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of Part II of AbbVie's second quarter 2014 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  AbbVie undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of subsequent events or developments, except as required by law.

SOURCE AbbVie

Related Links

http://www.abbvie.com

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