Efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir plus simeprevir therapy in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C: a real-world experience

Background Simeprevir plus sofosbuvir (SIM/SOF) regimen was recommended by professional guidelines for certain patients with HCV genotype 1 infection and there is lack of data about this regimen in patients with genotype 4 infection. Aim To evaluate the efficacy and safety of this regimen in Egyptian patients with chronic HCV genotype 4 infection in the real world. Methods Multicentre observational study included 583 patients with HCV genotype 4 infection who began 12 weeks of treatment with SIM plus SOF. Demographic, clinical and virological data as well as adverse outcomes were collected. Treatment naive patients were 342 (59%) of all included patients, 45% of patients had severe fibrosis (F3 and F4) while 55% had mild fibrosis (F1 and F2) and the primary outcome was sustained virological response (SVR). Results The overall SVR rate was 95.7% (558 out of 583 patients). In total, SVR12 in naive patients with mild fibrosis score (F1 and F2) was achieved in 98.9% (94/95) for F1 and 98.1% (105/107) for F2, while naive patients with severe fibrosis (F3 and F4) achieved SVR of 97.7% (86/88) for F3 and (42/52) 80.8% for F4. SVR in patients with previous interferon treatment achieved in 100% (45/45) for patients with F1 and 98.7% (74/75) for F2. While 94.7% (72/76) in experienced patients with F3; and 88.9% (40/45) for F4 achieved SVR12. Notable side effects included rash in 21 patients, photosensitivity in 18 patients, pruritus in 44 patients and hyperbilirubinemia in 42 patients. Conclusions A 12-week regimen of simeprevir/sofosbuvir was efficacious and well tolerated by treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients with chronic HCV genotype 4.