Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 12, 2026

Rapid Screening of HIV Reverse Transcriptase and Integrase Inhibitors
05:46

Rapid Screening of HIV Reverse Transcriptase and Integrase Inhibitors

Published on: April 9, 2014

18.6K

Outcomes, costs and cost-effectiveness of treating hepatitis C with direct acting antivirals

Jona T Stahmeyer1, Siegbert Rossol2, Christian Krauth1

  • 1Institute for Epidemiology, Social Medicine & Health Systems Research, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.

Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research
|May 12, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Direct-acting antivirals for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) significantly improve sustained viral response (SVR) rates. This review examines treatment outcomes, costs, and cost-effectiveness of these transformative direct-acting antiviral therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Virology
  • Pharmacoeconomics

Background:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection poses a significant global health challenge, leading to severe liver conditions like cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have revolutionized HCV treatment, targeting viral proteins to achieve high sustained viral response (SVR) rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the treatment outcomes, including SVR rates in clinical trials and real-world practice, of direct-acting antivirals for Hepatitis C.
  • To analyze the costs associated with different DAAs across various countries.
  • To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of various DAA treatment strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of published clinical trial data on SVR rates.
  • Analysis of reported treatment costs for DAAs in different international markets.
  • Review of cost-effectiveness analyses comparing various DAA regimens.

Main Results:

  • DAAs have demonstrated high SVR rates in both clinical trials and real-world settings, marking a significant advancement in HCV therapy.
  • Treatment costs for DAAs vary considerably by country, impacting accessibility and healthcare system burden.
  • Cost-effectiveness analyses indicate that DAAs are generally cost-effective, particularly when considering the long-term benefits of preventing liver disease progression.

Conclusions:

  • Direct-acting antivirals represent a highly effective treatment modality for Hepatitis C, achieving high cure rates.
  • The economic impact of DAAs necessitates careful consideration of pricing and reimbursement strategies to ensure equitable access.
  • Investing in DAA therapy is often cost-effective in the long term due to the prevention of severe liver-related morbidity and mortality.
Keywords:
chronic hepatitis Ccostscost–effectivenessdirect acting antiviralseffectivenesstreatment

More Related Videos

High-throughput Screening for Broad-spectrum Chemical Inhibitors of RNA Viruses11:34

High-throughput Screening for Broad-spectrum Chemical Inhibitors of RNA Viruses

Published on: May 5, 2014

14.5K
Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds09:29

Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds

Published on: October 29, 2015

31.0K

Related Concept Videos

Hepatitis01:25

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver most commonly caused by hepatotropic viruses (A–E), though non-infectious causes such as alcohol and drugs also exist.Hepatitis AHepatitis A virus (HAV) is a non-enveloped RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family. It is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route, typically through ingestion of contaminated food or water. After ingestion, HAV enters the bloodstream through the oropharynx or intestinal epithelium and reaches the liver.
59
Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the...
50.7K
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis01:30

Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...
35
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test01:22

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test

In clinical practice, the direct measurement of hepatic blood flow to evaluate liver function presents significant challenges due to the intricate and specialized nature of the necessary techniques. Consequently, healthcare professionals often rely on empirical estimates derived from thorough patient examinations and liver function tests to gauge liver health. Among the tools at their disposal, the Child–Pugh and MELD scoring systems stand out for their ability to categorize and assess...
263
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow01:26

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow

Chronic liver disease significantly impacts drug metabolism due to alterations in hepatic blood flow and enzyme accessibility. This disruption affects the body's pharmacokinetics—the movement and processing of drugs within the system. Key enzymes crucial for metabolizing medications become less accessible, changing how drugs are processed and utilized. Furthermore, liver disease influences the synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin and globulins, which play critical roles in drug...
353
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment01:08

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment

Hepatic impairment, characterized by decreased liver function, does not uniformly mandate adjustments in drug dosage. Whether dosage modifications are necessary depends on various factors related to the drug's metabolism and elimination pathways. If a drug is primarily excreted via the kidneys and bypasses significant hepatic processing, if it undergoes minimal metabolic transformation in the liver, or if it is volatile and primarily expelled through the lungs, dose adjustments may not be...
352