AbbVie Presents Data on Eight-Week Treatment of VIEKIRAX® (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir tablets) + EXVIERA® (dasabuvir tablets) in Patients with Genotype 1b Chronic Hepatitis C

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced new data showing high response rates with just eight weeks of VIEKIRAX® (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir tablets) + EXVIERA® (dasabuvir tablets) treatment. In the Phase 3b GARNET study, 98 percent (n=160/163) of previously untreated patients with genotype 1b (GT1b) chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection without cirrhosis achieved sustained virologic response rates at 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR₁₂).¹ These data were presented today at the 2016 EASL Special Conference: New Perspectives in Hepatitis C Virus Infection – The Roadmap for Cure, in Paris, France and included in the newly published 'EASL Recommendations on Treatment of Hepatitis C.' VIEKIRAX + EXVIERA is currently approved in the European Union for GT1b patients without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis for 12 weeks.

"VIEKIRAX + EXVIERA has already achieved high cure rates with 12 weeks of treatment," said Stefan Zeuzem, M.D., study author and Chief of the Department of Medicine at the J.W. Goethe University Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany. "These results now show the potential for cure in just eight weeks with VIEKIRAX + EXVIERA in HCV genotype 1b infected patients without liver cirrhosis. The efficacy in this population is particularly important as GT1b is the most common subtype of hepatitis C virus globally."

Approximately 160 million people worldwide are infected with HCV.⁵ Genotype 1 is the most prevalent of the six major HCV genotypes, affecting an estimated 83 million people worldwide.⁶ In Europe, GT1b is the most predominant subtype accounting for 47 percent of the nine million people infected with chronic HCV.^3,4,6

"AbbVie remains focused on continuing to explore and understand the expectations of HCV care, including a shorter treatment duration with VIEKIRAX + EXVIERA in GT1b patients," said Rob Scott, M.D., Vice President, Development and Chief Medical Officer, AbbVie.

In the GARNET study, the most commonly reported adverse events (≥5 percent) were headache (21 percent), fatigue (17 percent), nasopharyngitis (8 percent), pruritus (8 percent), nausea (6 percent) and asthenia (5 percent). These adverse events were mostly mild, with one patient discontinuing treatment due to adverse events.¹

About the GARNET Study¹
The Phase 3b GARNET study is a multicenter, open-label, single-arm study, investigating the safety and efficacy of eight weeks of treatment with VIEKIRAX + EXVIERA without ribavirin in treatment-naïve patients with GT1b chronic HCV infection without cirrhosis.¹ The study enrolled 166 patients across 20 sites around the world. Of the 166 patients enrolled, 163 patients had GT1b chronic HCV infection without cirrhosis and three patients with other HCV genotypes were excluded from the efficacy analysis. The primary endpoint is the percentage of patients who achieved a sustained virologic response 12 weeks after treatment (SVR₁₂).

Two patients experienced post-treatment relapse and one subject discontinued due to noncompliance. Less than one percent of patients experienced serious adverse events or clinically significant (Grade ≥3) laboratory abnormalities. One patient discontinued treatment on Day 45 due to an adverse event but achieved SVR₁₂.

Additional information about the GARNET study can be found on www.clinicaltrials.gov.  

VIEKIRAX® + EXVIERA® 
VIEKIRAX + EXVIERA is approved in the European Union for the treatment of genotype 1 (GT1) chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, including patients with compensated cirrhosis. VIEKIRAX is approved in the European Union for the treatment of genotype 4 (GT4) chronic HCV infection.

VIEKIRAX tablets consist of the fixed-dose combination of paritaprevir 150mg (NS3/4A protease inhibitor) and ritonavir 100mg with ombitasvir 25mg (NS5A inhibitor), dosed once daily. EXVIERA tablets consist of dasabuvir 250mg (non-nucleoside NS5B polymerase inhibitor) dosed twice daily. VIEKIRAX + EXVIERA are taken with or without ribavirin (RBV), dosed twice daily based on patient type. VIEKIRAX + EXVIERA is taken for 12 weeks with or without RBV, except in genotype 1a patients with compensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A), who should take it for 24 weeks with RBV.

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

Additional information about AbbVie's hepatitis C development program can be found on www.clinicaltrials.gov.

EU Indication
VIEKIRAX is indicated in combination with other medicinal products for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in adults. EXVIERA is indicated in combination with other medicinal products for the treatment of CHC in adults.

Important EU Safety Information
Contraindications:
VIEKIRAX + EXVIERA are contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C). Patients taking ethinyl estradiol-containing medicinal products must discontinue them and switch to an alternative method of contraception prior to initiating VIEKIRAX + EXVIERA. Do not give VIEKIRAX with certain drugs that are sensitive CYP3A substrates or strong inhibitors of CYP3A. Do not give VIEKIRAX and EXVIERA with strong or moderate enzyme inducers. Do not give EXVIERA with certain drugs that are strong inhibitors of CYP2C8.

Special warnings and precautions for use:
VIEKIRAX and EXVIERA are not recommended as monotherapy and should be used in combination with other medicinal products for the treatment of hepatitis C infection. 

Risk of Hepatic Decompensation and Hepatic Failure in Patients with Cirrhosis
VIEKIRAX and EXVIERA are not recommended in patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B). Patients with cirrhosis should be monitored for signs and symptoms of hepatic decompensation, including hepatic laboratory testing at baseline and during treatment.

ALT elevations
Transient elevations of ALT to >5x ULN without concomitant elevations of bilirubin occurred in clinical trials with VIEKIRAX + EXVIERA and were more frequent in a subgroup who were using ethinyl estradiol-containing contraceptives.

Pregnancy and concomitant use with ribavirin
Extreme caution must be taken to avoid pregnancy in female patients and female partners of male patients when VIEKIRAX with or without EXVIERA is taken in combination with ribavirin, see section 4.6 and refer to the Summary of Product Characteristics for ribavirin for additional information.

Use with concomitant medicinal products
Use caution when administering VIEKIRAX with fluticasone or other glucocorticoids that are metabolized by CYP3A4. A reduction in colchicine dosage or interruption in colchicine is recommended in patients with normal renal or hepatic function. VIEKIRAX with or without EXVIERA is expected to increase exposure of statins so certain statins need to be discontinued or dosages reduced. Low dose ritonavir, which is part of VIEKIRAX, may select for PI resistance in HIV co-infected patients without ongoing antiretroviral therapy. HIV co-infected patients without suppressive antiretroviral therapy should not be treated with VIEKIRAX.

Adverse Reactions
Most common (>20 percent) adverse reactions for VIEKIRAX + EXVIERA with RBV were fatigue and nausea.

Full summary of product characteristics is available at www.ema.europa.eu

Globally, prescribing information varies; refer to the individual country product label for complete information.

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. Together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pharmacyclics, AbbVie employs more than 28,000 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.

¹ Welzel, T. et al. GARNET: High SVR Rates Following Eight-Week Treatment with Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir + Dasabuvir for Patients with HCV Genotype 1b Infection. Presented at the European Association for the Study of the Liver Special Conference: New Perspectives in Hepatitis C Virus Infection – The Roadmap for Cure, Paris, France on September 23-24, 2016.
² Gower E. et al. Global epidemiology and genotype distribution of the hepatitis C virus infection. Journal of Hepatology Update: Hepatitis C, 2014; 61: S45-S57.
³ O'Leary JG, Davis GL. Hepatitis C. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology/Diagnosis/Management. 9th ed, Vol 1. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier. 2010:1313-1335.
⁴ Hatzakis A. et al. The state of hepatitis B and C in Europe: report from the hepatitis B and C summit conference. Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 2011; 18 (Suppl. 1): 1-16.
⁵ Lavanchy D. Evolving epidemiology of hepatitis C virus. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2011; 17(2):107-15.
⁶ Messina, J. et al. Global distribution and prevalence of hepatitis C virus genotypes. Hepatology 2015; 61: 77-87.

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