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Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir for the treatment of hepatitis C in pediatric patients

Chiara Rubino1, Sandra Trapani2, Giuseppe Indolfi1,3

  • 1Pediatric And Liver Unit, Meyer Children's University Hospital Of Florence, Florence, Italy.

Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology
|August 2, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir offers a safe and effective treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus infection in children. This direct-acting antiviral combination shows promise for expanded pediatric use, though access remains a challenge globally.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Virology
  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir is a direct-acting antiviral combination with pangenotypic activity for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
  • It received approval for children aged 6-17 years in 2020 and for ages 3-5 years in June 2021.
  • Limited access to direct-acting antivirals is a significant issue, particularly in low and middle-income countries.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, tolerability, and safety of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir in pediatric populations.
  • To explore the current and potential applications of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir for treating chronic hepatitis C virus infection in children and adolescents.

Main Methods:

  • Literature search of PUBMED and EMBASE databases.
  • Inclusion of citations from references of available literature and ClinicalTrials.gov.
  • Focus on pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, tolerability, and safety data.

Main Results:

  • Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir demonstrates favorable pharmacokinetics, efficacy, tolerability, and safety profiles in children and adolescents.
  • Five direct-acting antiviral combinations, three with pangenotypic activity, are now approved for pediatric use.
  • No significant differences in efficacy or safety have been reported among these approved combinations.

Conclusions:

  • Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir is a valuable treatment option for chronic hepatitis C virus infection in children and adolescents.
  • Continued research and improved access are crucial to address treatment limitations, especially in resource-limited settings.

Keywords:
Sofosbuvir/velpatasvirchildrendirect-acting antiviralshepatitis Cpangenotypic regimen

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