Telaprevir(Incivik) is the first hepatitis C drug that has demonstrated activity in patients who have failed prior therapy. In patients who received peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin for a year, the addition of telapravir for 24 weeks achieved a sustained virologic response(SVR) of 53% compared to 14% in patients who did not receive telapravir.It is thought that some patients who accomplish this outcome may be cured of Hepatitis, a feat rarely accomplished before. In a second randomized controlled trial (REALIZE) of patients who had previously relapsed or had only a partial response, rates of SVR were higher in patients treated with telaprevir (83% to 88%) compared to 24% in controls. In a third trial (ADVANCE) for previously untreated patients, patients taking telaprevir had a SVR (69% to 75%) versus 44% in the control group.
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