Hepatitis C: the mysterious virus that met its match

The virus that brims with unanswered questions never stopped researchers from solving a few of its mysteries over the last 25 years.

AbbVie Granted Priority Review in Japan for its Investigational Regimen of Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir (G/P) for the Treatment of All Major Genotypes of Chronic Hepatitis C

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., March 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced that priority review has been granted by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for its investigational, pan-genotypic, ribavirin-free regimen of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (G/P) for the treatment of all major genotypes (GT1-6) of the chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). This priority review follows European Medicines Agency (EMA) accelerated assessment and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) priority review designations in December 2016 and January 2017 respectively.

AbbVie Receives CHMP Positive Opinion for Eight-Week Treatment Option with VIEKIRAX® (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir tablets) + EXVIERA® (dasabuvir tablets) for Patients with Genotype 1b Chronic Hepatitis C

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Feb. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global biopharmaceutical company, announced today that the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted a positive opinion for a shorter, eight-week treatment of VIEKIRAX® (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir tablets) + EXVIERA® (dasabuvir tablets) as an option for previously untreated adult patients with genotype 1b (GT1b) chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and minimal to moderate fibrosis*.

U.S. FDA Grants Priority Review to AbbVie for its Investigational Regimen of Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir (G/P) for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in All Major Genotypes (GT1-6)

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Feb. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its New Drug Application (NDA) and granted priority review for its investigational, pan-genotypic regimen of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (G/P), being evaluated for the treatment of all major genotypes (GT1-6) of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). The FDA grants priority review designation to medicines that it determines have the potential to provide significant improvements in the safety and effectiveness of the treatment of a serious disease. The NDA is supported by data from eight registrational studies in AbbVie's G/P clinical development program, which evaluated more than 2,300 patients in 27 countries across all major HCV genotypes and for special populations.

European Medicines Agency Grants Accelerated Assessment, Validates Marketing Authorization Application for AbbVie's Investigational Regimen of Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir (G/P) for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in All Major Genotypes (GT1-6)

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Jan. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced that its marketing authorization application (MAA) has been validated and is now under accelerated assessment by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the company's investigational, pan-genotypic regimen of glecaprevir (ABT-493)/pibrentasvir (ABT-530) (G/P) for the treatment of all major chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes. If approved, G/P may provide a shorter treatment duration for genotypes 1-6 (GT1-6) patients without cirrhosis, who make up the majority of HCV patients, and an additional treatment option to patients with compensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A). G/P is also intended to address the needs of patients with specific treatment challenges, including those with severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) and those not cured with previous direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment.

Eight Weeks of Treatment with AbbVie's Investigational, Pan-Genotypic, Ribavirin-free Regimen of Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir (G/P) for Chronic Hepatitis C Achieved High SVR[12] Rates in Genotype 1 Japanese Patients

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Jan. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced high SVR12 rates with 8 weeks of treatment with its investigational, pan-genotypic, ribavirin (RBV)-free regimen of glecaprevir (ABT-493)/pibrentasvir (ABT-530) (G/P) in Japanese patients with genotype 1 (GT1) chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection without cirrhosis. In top-line results from the Phase 3 CERTAIN-1 study, 99 percent (n=105/106) of patients without cirrhosis, which represents the majority of HCV patients, and without the Y93H variant achieved sustained virologic response at 12 weeks post treatment (SVR12). The only patient in whom SVR12 was not documented in this intent to treat (ITT) population was lost to follow-up. All 23 patients with the Y93H variant were assigned to the G/P arm and achieved SVR12.

AbbVie Submits New Drug Application to U.S. FDA for its Investigational Regimen of Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir (G/P) for the Treatment of All Major Genotypes of Chronic Hepatitis C

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Dec. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global biopharmaceutical company, announced that it has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the company's investigational, pan-genotypic regimen of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (G/P), being evaluated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). In Phase 3 clinical studies, eight weeks of therapy with G/P achieved high sustained virologic response (SVR) rates across all major genotypes (GT 1-6) in patients without cirrhosis, which represents the majority of HCV patients. In patients with compensated cirrhosis, high SVR rates were achieved after 12 weeks of therapy. High SVR rates were also achieved in patients with limited treatment options, such as those with severe chronic kidney disease (CKD). In historically difficult to treat populations, including those not cured* by prior direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment regimens, high SVR rates were achieved with durations as short as 12 weeks.

AbbVie's Investigational, Pan-Genotypic Regimen of Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir (G/P) Shows High SVR Rates in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients with Severe Chronic Kidney Disease

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Nov. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced 98 percent (n=102/104) of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients with severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) achieved sustained virologic response following 12 weeks of treatment (SVR12) with its investigational, pan-genotypic regimen of glecaprevir (ABT-493)/pibrentasvir (ABT-530) (G/P) in the primary intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis. In a modified intent-to-treat (mITT) analysis, SVR12 was achieved in 100 percent (n=102/102) of severe CKD patients; mITT excludes patients who did not achieve SVR for reasons other than virologic failure. These new data from the Phase 3 EXPEDITION-4 study, evaluating patients with chronic HCV infection across all major genotypes (GT1-6) and severe CKD, will be presented as a late-breaker today at The Liver Meeting®, the Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) in Boston.

Eight Weeks of Treatment with AbbVie's Investigational, Pan-Genotypic Regimen of Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir (G/P) Achieved High SVR Rates Across All Major Genotypes of Chronic Hepatitis C

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Nov. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced high SVR12 rates with 8 weeks of treatment with its investigational, pan-genotypic regimen of glecaprevir (ABT-493)/pibrentasvir (ABT-530) (G/P) across all major chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes. In more than 700 genotype 1-6 (GT1-6) chronic HCV infected patients without cirrhosis and who are new to treatment, 97.5 percent (n=693/711) achieved sustained virologic response at 12 weeks post treatment (SVR12), regardless of baseline viral load. The rate of virologic failure was 1 percent (n=9/711).

AbbVie's Investigational HCV Regimen Receives U.S. FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Sept. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) for the investigational, pan-genotypic regimen of glecaprevir (ABT-493)/pibrentasvir (ABT-530) (G/P) for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) who failed previous therapy with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in genotype 1 (GT1), including therapy with an NS5A inhibitor and/or protease inhibitor.