Therapy for Hepatitis C — The Costs of Success

Welcomed and exciting results from three large, controlled trials of different regimens of oral antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1, have now been published in the Journal.13 The regimens all included the combination of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir, two new direct-acting antiviral agents with potent activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV). The two drugs were given as a single tablet once daily for 8, 12, or 24 weeks, with or without ribavirin. The results were consistent and striking: the various regimens yielded rates of sustained virologic response of 93% to 99%. The combination of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir . . .