NZ marks over a year of funded hepatitis C treatment
World Hepatitis Day, 28 July: New Zealand marks over
a year of funded hepatitis C treatment – enabling more
than 2,000 Kiwis to be treated for hepatitis C with VIEKIRA
PAK[i],[ii]
• An estimated 50,000 people in New Zealand
have chronic hepatitis C[iii],iv
• Only 50% (25,000) of
them are diagnosed, so 25,000 may not know they have it[iv]
• Anyone who may have been
exposed to contaminated blood should ask their GP to test
them for hepatitis C
• PHARMAC now funds direct-acting
antiviral treatments that have high virological cure rates[1]ii,iii
• The World Health
Organization’s global goal is to eliminate hepatitis C by
2030[v]; experts believe this is possible
for New Zealandiv
NEW ZEALAND. Today, World Hepatitis Day 2017 marks just over a year since PHARMAC started funding interferon-free direct-acting antiviraltreatments for hepatitis C.ii
VIEKIRA PAK® (ombitasvir, paritaprevir, ritonavir tablets; dasabuvir tablets) and VIEKIRA PAK-RBV® (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir tablets; dasabuvir tablets; ribavirin tablets) are available via prescription from a general practitioner or specialistii. VIEKIRA PAK is approved for people living with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C, who make up around 56% of New Zealanders living with the virus.iv,[vi]
More than 2,000 patients have been prescribed VIEKIRA PAK since the PHARMAC reimbursementi, and with a virological cure rate of 97%,vi this means most of those patients are on their way to being cleared of virus.
Treatment with VIEKIRA PAK is fully funded in New Zealand.ii This means that it’s free (apart from the cost of visiting a prescriber).
Professor Ed Gane, Deputy Director and Chief Hepatologist at the New Zealand Liver Transplant Unit, contributed to the development of this new medicine for chronic hepatitis C, undertaking years of trials. He encourages anyone who thinks they might have been exposed to the disease to talk to their doctor.
“Hepatitis C is an infectious, viral disease and is the leading cause of liver-related deaths in this country, claiming more than 150 lives every year. Hepatitis C is also the leading cause of liver cancer, liver failure and liver transplantation. The good news is that we have treatments available that can cure the disease and prevent these terrible complications, and with ongoing improvements in awareness and appropriate management of the disease, it will be possible for us to eliminate it from New Zealand by 2030.”
Andrew Tompkin, General Manager of AbbVie New Zealand says the company is proud to be able to offer these treatments to New Zealanders, and help to reduce unnecessary suffering from hepatitis C.
“We are living in a new era for the tens of thousands of New Zealanders who are impacted by hepatitis C. AbbVie is committed to supporting positive outcomes not only for the patients themselves but also for their friends, family and the health system broadly.
“We look forward to a future where hepatitis C no longer causes chronic illness or claims the lives of New Zealanders,” he said.
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne
virus which is spread by blood-to-blood contact. Those most
at risk of hepatitis C are people who[vii]:
• Have injected drugs (even
if only once)
• Have received a tattoo or body piercing
using unsterile equipment
• Lived or received medical
attention in a high-risk country (South East Asia, China,
Eastern Europe (including Russia), or the Middle
East)
• Had a blood transfusion or received blood
products prior to 1992
• Have ever been jaundiced or
had abnormal liver function
• Have ever been in
prison
• Were born to a mother living with hepatitis
C.
Anyone who has ever had jaundice, unusual tiredness or
fatigue, or an abnormal liver function test should think
about being tested. New Zealanders living with hepatitis C
are encouraged to see their doctor to have their liver
health assessed and discuss management options.
VIEKIRA
PAK and VIEKIRA PAK-RBV are both oral, interferon-free
treatments, to be taken for 12 weeks in most patientsvi.
The therapies contain three direct-acting antivirals that
work together to block three stages of the viral life cycle.
Experts consider a patient to be cured of the hepatitis C
virus if the patient has undetectable levels of viral RNA 12
weeks after completing the treatment
course.vi
Prescription Medicines, VIEKIRA PAK® and
VIEKIRA PAK-RBV® have risks and benefits and should be used
strictly as directedvi. In Phase 3 clinical trials with
VIEKIRA PAK and VIEKIRA PAK-RBV, most adverse events were
mild in nature, with the most commonly reported being
fatigue nausea, itching, and insomnia. As with all
treatments in this class, it is also important to consider
potential drug-drug interactions. People taking VIEKIRA
PAK-RBV®, should discuss the additional considerations of
ribavirin with their doctor, for example avoiding use in
pregnancy (Category X), and monitoring for anaemia. If
symptoms continue or you have side effects, see your doctor,
pharmacist or healthcare professional.vi
#WorldHepatitisDay
ENDS
About AbbVie NZ
AbbVie is a
global, research-driven biopharmaceutical company committed
to developing innovative advanced therapies for some of the
world’s most complex and critical conditions. The
company’s mission is to use its expertise, dedicated
people and unique approach to innovation to markedly improve
treatments across four primary therapeutic areas:
immunology, oncology, virology and neuroscience. In more
than 75 countries, AbbVie employees are working every day to
advance health solutions for people around the world. For
more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.co.nz AbbVie Limited 156 –
158 Victoria St Wellington New Zealand
For medical enquiries relating to VIEKIRA PAK® and/or VIEKIRA PAK RBV please contact AbbVie Medical Information atmedinfoanz@abbvie.com or call 0800 900 030.
Consumer Medicine
Information:
For a copy of the Consumer Medicine
Information for VIEKIRA PAK and VIEKIRA PAK-RBV please refer
to: http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/consumers/cmi/v/viekiraPakRBV.pdf
Important information about VIEKIRA PAK and
VIEKIRA PAK-RBV
VIEKIRA PAK and VIEKIRA PAK-RBV are
used to treat some types of chronic (long-lasting) hepatitis
C in adults. Ask your doctor if these medicines are right
for you. Normal doctor’s charges will apply. Always use
strictly as directed. If symptoms persist or you have side
effects, see your healthcare professional. Please refer to
the Consumer Medicine Information that is available from
your pharmacist, fromwww.viekira.co.nz, or from the Medsafe
website www.medsafe.govt.nz.
VIEKIRA PAK is a combination therapy containing two different types of tablets: paritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir (75/50/12.5 mg) tablets and dasabuvir (250 mg) tablets. VIEKIRA PAK-RBV is a combination therapy containing three different types of tablets: paritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir (75/50/12.5 mg) tablets and dasabuvir (250 mg) tablets, plus ribavirin (200 mg) tablets.
The following information applies
to both VIEKIRA PAK and VIEKIRA PAK-RBV
VIEKIRA
PAK and VIEKIRA PAK-RBV include medicines called
direct-acting antiviral agents, which have risks and
benefits. You must not take them if you are allergic to any
of the individual medicines or to any of the inactive
ingredients. Do not take them if you have severe liver
impairment or decompensation (Child-Pugh C), or if you take
a medicine that contains any of the following:
carbamazepine, colchicine (if you have certain liver or
kidney problems), efavirenz, ergotamine or its derivatives,
ethinyloestradiol-containing medicines (e.g. combined oral
contraceptives), fusidic acid, gemfibrozil, midazolam (taken
by mouth), phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampicin, St.
John’s wort, salmeterol, sildenafil (when used for
pulmonary arterial hypertension), simvastatin, terfenadine,
or triazolam. See Consumer Medicine Information leaflets for
a complete list. Do not give VIEKIRA PAK or VIEKIRA PAK-RBV
to children or adolescents under 18 years of age. Tell your
doctor about any other medical conditions you may have,
especially if you have had liver disease other than
hepatitis C, hepatitis B infection, HIV infection, or a
kidney or liver transplant. Tell your doctor about any
current or previous treatments for your hepatitis C. Tell
your doctor if you or your partner are pregnant. Do not take
VIEKIRA PAK or VIEKIRA PAK-RBV if you are breastfeeding or
plan to breastfeed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you do
not feel well when taking VIEKIRA PAK or VIEKIRA PAK-RBV.
Some of the more common side effects of treatment include:
fatigue, nausea, itching, trouble sleeping, and unusual
weakness or lack of energy. Some medicines and VIEKIRA PAK
or VIEKIRA PAK-RBV may interfere with each other, so tell
your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other
medicines.
The following
information applies only to VIEKIRA
PAK-RBV
Ribavirin may cause birth defects or
death of an unborn baby. Therefore, you must not take
VIEKIRA PAK-RBV if you or your partner are pregnant, and you
must take extreme care to avoid pregnancy during treatment
and for 6 months after completion of treatment with
ribavirin. Females and males must use two reliable forms of
contraception during this time. Do not take VIEKIRA PAK-RBV
if you have had severe heart problems in the last 6 months,
or have a red blood cell disorder, like thalassaemia or
sickle-cell anaemia. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you
have or have had heart problems, gout, severe liver disease,
or kidney disease. The most common side effects with VIEKIRA
PAK-RBV include tiredness, looking pale, diarrhoea,
vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, headache, cough,
shortness of breath, dry skin, and rash.
AbbVie is a
registered Trademark of AbbVie Inc. VIEKIRA PAK is a
registered Trademark of AbbVie Ireland Unlimited Company. ©
2017 AbbVie Limited, PO Box 11437, Manners Street,
Wellington 6142, New Zealand. NZ-HCV-0030. February
2017.
________________________________________
[1] Cure defined as undetectable HCV
RNA 12 weeks after the end of treatment
(SVR12).
________________________________________
1
Cure defined as undetectable HCV RNA 12 weeks after
the end of treatment (SVR12).
[i] Data on file –
PHARMAC number of patients prescribed VIEKIRA PAK –
NZ-HCV-0084
[ii] PHARMAC, Approval of funding for
hepatitis C treatments https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news/notification-2016-06-10-hepatitis-c-treatments/,
published 10 June 2016, last accessed 21 July, 2017
[iii] Ministry of Health. (2017, 28
June). Hepatitis C. Retrieved 21 July, 2017 from http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/hepatitis-c
[iv] Gane, E., Stedman, C., Brunton, C.,
Radke, S., Henderson, C., Estes, C., Razavi H. (2014).
Impact of improved treatment on disease burden of chronic
hepatitis C in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal,
127(1407), 61-74.
[v] World Health Organisation, Combating
Hepatitis B and C to Reach Elimination by 2030, available here, last accessed 14 July 2017.
[vi] Medsafe. (n.d.). Medicines: Product
Information. Retrieved 21 July, 2017 from http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/searchResults.asp?q=viekira+pak
[vii] Hepatitis Foundation, http://www.hepatitisfoundation.org.nz/hepatitis-c/who-is-at-risk/
last accessed 21 July,
2017.