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Hepatitis C management in primary care has changed

A new direct-acting antiviral (DAA) oral regimen for the treatment of hepatitis C, glecaprevir + pibrentasvir (Maviret) will be subsidised without restriction from 1 February, 2019. Treatment with glecaprevir + pibrentasvir is simpler than with Viekira Pak regimens and patients with hepatitis C should now predominantly receive treatment in primary care.

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A new direct-acting antiviral (DAA) oral regimen for the treatment of hepatitis C, glecaprevir + pibrentasvir (Maviret) will be subsidised without restriction from 1 February, 2019 and will replace Viekira Pak* regimens, which are being delisted.1 General practitioners have been able to prescribe Viekira Pak and Viekira Pak-RBV since 1 October, 2016, to treat patients infected with HCV genotypes 1a and 1b (approved indications) and genotype 4 (unapproved indication). Glecaprevir + pibrentasvir can be prescribed to patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection due to any of the HCV genotypes.

* Viekira Pak (paritaprevir, ritonavir and ombitasvir with dasabuvir); Viekira Pak-RBV (the same combination with the addition of ribavirin)

More patients can now benefit from treatment

There are approximately 50,000 people with chronic HCV infection in New Zealand who could benefit from subsidised treatment with glecaprevir + pibrentasvir.2

In New Zealand, approximately 56% of HCV infections are caused by genotype 1, approximately 35% due to genotype 3 and 8% due to genotype 2.3 Genotypes 4 and 6 together account for less than 2% of HCV infections, and genotype 5 does not appear to be present in New Zealand.3 All patients with HCV infection without evidence of cirrhosis can now be treated in primary care with subsidised glecaprevir + pibrentasvir, including patients with less severe disease due to genotypes 2, 3, and 6, who were previously ineligible for subsidised treatment.

Treatment with glecaprevir + pibrentasvir is shorter and simpler for clinicians and patients than Viekira Pak regimens

Glecaprevir + pibrentasvir is taken as a once daily regimen of three tablets, for eight weeks, regardless of HCV genotype. Viekira Pak regimens required patients to take six to ten tablets per day, with morning and evening dosing, for eight to twelve weeks, depending on patient characteristics and HCV genotype.

HCV genotype testing is no longer required

Glecaprevir + pibrentasvir can be prescribed to patients infected with any HCV genotype, therefore genotype testing prior to initiating treatment is no longer required.

Treatment with ribavirin is no longer required

Patients with genotype 1a infection previously required the addition of ribavirin to their treatment regimen (Viekira Pak-RBV). The use of ribavirin is associated with adverse effects such as anaemia and requires strict use of two forms of contraception during and for six months following treatment due to its teratogenic potential. Ribavirin is not required for patients with genotype 1a infection receiving glecaprevir + pibrentasvir treatment.

Patients should present prescriptions for glecaprevir + pibrentasvir to an enrolled pharmacy

Prescriptions for glecaprevir + pibrentasvir should be given to the patient to present to a pharmacy, as is typically the case for most medicines subsidised in the community. Similar to the arrangements that have been in place for Viekira Pak regimens, glecaprevir + pibrentasvir will be available at enrolled pharmacies.4 There is no co-payment required from patients for glecaprevir + pibrentasvir prescriptions. For patients prescribed Viekira Pak regimens or Harvoni, prescriptions need to be sent directly to PHARMAC.

From 1 February, 2019, a list of pharmacies enrolled to dispense glecaprevir + pibrentasvir will be available at: www.maviret.co.nz

An online training module for pharmacies who wish to enrol is available at: www.abbviecarepharmacy.co.nz

From 1 February, 2019, Viekira Pak and Viekira Pak-RBV will no longer be subsidised.4 Patients who have already begun treatment with these regimens before this date can continue treatment and finish their prescribed course of medicines.1 Patients who have already been prescribed a Viekira Pak regimen, but have not presented to an enrolled pharmacy to start their course of treatment, will be able to present to an accredited pharmacy between 1 February, 2019 and 30 April, 2019 to start treatment and receive their prescribed course of Viekira Pak regimen.4 Patients who have previously been treated with Viekira Pak regimens and have no evidence of HCV viral activity after treatment do not need to be re-treated with glecaprevir + pibrentasvir.

Patients initiating HCV treatment on or after 1 February, 2019 should be prescribed glecaprevir + pibrentasvir.1

Ledipasvir + sofosbuvir is subsidised for patients who meet Special Authority criteria, including patients with advanced liver complications, e.g. decompensated cirrhosis or awaiting a liver transplant. Applications for subsidised ledipasvir + sofosbuvir are likely to be made in secondary care and will be reviewed by the PHARMAC Hepatitis C Treatments Panel.

This resource provides prescribers in primary care with comprehensive guidance on the management of patients with hepatitis C (Figure 1). It is not intended to cover patients treated in secondary care who may have advanced disease and/or concurrent viral infections. Patients in secondary care are managed according to the New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology HCV treatment guidelines.

To safely manage patients with hepatitis C in primary care, general practitioners need to:

  1. Test patients at high risk of infection
  2. Conduct pre-treatment assessments
  3. Monitor and follow-up patients prescribed glecaprevir + pibrentasvir

Further information for patients and clinicians:

If positive

If treatment in primary care is appropriate

Treatment lasts eight weeks
Follow-up patients after four weeks of treatment to assess adverse effects

Figure 1: Diagnosis and management of HCV infection in primary care

Acknowledgement:

Thank you to Dr Ed Gane, Professor of Medicine, University of Auckland, Chief Hepatologist and Deputy Director of the New Zealand Liver Transplant Unit for expert review of this article.


Published: 30 January 2019 | Updated: 15 November 2022

15 November 2022 - Updated the recommended time for testing treatment success from 12 weeks to four weeks

6 November 2020 Reference 2 updated

22 February 2019 Figure 1 footnote further clarified


If you would like to know what changes were made when the article was updated please contact us

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