Short Duration Versus Standard Response-Guided Therapy With Boceprevir Combined With PegIntron and Ribavirin in Previously Untreated Non-Cirrhotic Asian Participants With Chronic HCV Genotype 1 (MK-3034-107)

Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD)

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 3

Conditions: Hepatitis C, Chronic

Treatments: Drug: Ribavirin; Drug: Boceprevir; Biological: Peg-interferon alfa-2b

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Industry

Identifiers

NCT01945294

3034-107

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to estimate the difference in the efficacy between a 16-week treatment regimen of boceprevir (BOC) in combination with peg-intron alpha 2b (P) plus ribavirin (R) (BOC + PR) and a 28-week treatment regimen of BOC + PR in previously untreated participants with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) genotype 1 in Asia who achieve undetectable hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid (HCV RNA).

Enrollment: 257 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• weigh ≥ 40 kg and ≤ 125 kg
• have CHC genotype 1 infection
• has had a liver biopsy or non-invasive liver fibrosis test that shows no evidence of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma
• must agree that the participant and the participant's partner will each use acceptable methods of contraception for at least 2 weeks prior to Day 1 and continue until at least 6 months after last dose of study medication, or longer if dictated by local regulations (for a female participant who is of childbearing potential or male participant with female sexual partner who is of childbearing potential)

Exclusion criteria

• participates in any other interventional clinical trial within 30 days of the screening visit in this trial or intends to participate in another interventional clinical trial during participation in this trial
• is co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B virus
• has evidence or history of chronic hepatitis not caused by HCV, including but not limited to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), drug-induced hepatitis, and autoimmune hepatitis
• has evidence of decompensated liver disease including, but not limited to, a history or presence of clinical ascites, bleeding varices, or hepatic encephalopathy
• has evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or is under evaluation for HCC
• has evidence of active or suspected malignancy, or a history of malignancy, within the last 5 years
• has been previously treated with an interferon or ribavirin regimen or HCV direct acting anti-viral regimen, or treated for hepatitis C with any investigational medication
• taking/plans to take significant inducers of inhibitors of Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates 2 weeks prior to start of study medications, or herbal supplements, including but not limited to St. John's Wort 2 weeks prior to start of study medications (Day 1)
• has pre-existing psychiatric condition(s)
• has a clinical diagnosis of substance abuse
• has any known medical condition that could interfere with the participation in and completion of the trial including immunologically-mediated disease, chronic pulmonary disease, or current or history of any clinically significant cardiac abnormalities/dysfunction
• is pregnant or nursing (for female participant) or female partner intends to become pregnant (for male participant)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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257 participants in 3 patient groups

Arm 1: 16-week Treatment Arm

Experimental group

Description:

All screened and enrolled participants initially underwent a 12-week (4 weeks PR + 8 weeks BOC + PR) lead-in treatment period prior to randomization to Arms 1 or 2 (participants with undetectable HCV RNA) or allocation to Arm 3 (participants with detectable HCV RNA). After completing the 12-week lead-in, participants with undetectable HCV RNA were randomized to receive an additional 4 weeks of BOC + PR, for a total of 16 weeks of treatment. At Week 16, participants underwent 12 weeks of follow-up (participation complete at Week 28).

Treatment:

Biological: Peg-interferon alfa-2b

Drug: Boceprevir

Drug: Ribavirin

Arm 2: 28-week Treatment Arm

Experimental group

Description:

All screened and enrolled participants initially underwent a 12-week (4 weeks PR + 8 weeks BOC + PR) lead-in treatment period prior to randomization to Arms 1 or 2 (participants with undetectable HCV RNA) or allocation to Arm 3 (participants with detectable HCV RNA). After completing the 12-week lead-in, participants with undetectable HCV RNA were randomized to receive an additional 16 weeks of BOC + PR, for a total of 28 weeks of treatment. At Week 28, participants underwent 12 weeks of follow-up (participation complete at Week 40).

Treatment:

Biological: Peg-interferon alfa-2b

Drug: Boceprevir

Drug: Ribavirin

Arm 3: 48-week Treatment Arm

Experimental group

Description:

All screened and enrolled participants initially underwent a 12-week (4 weeks PR + 8 weeks BOC + PR) lead-in treatment period prior to randomization to Arms 1 or 2 (participants with undetectable HCV RNA) or allocation to Arm 3 (participants with detectable HCV RNA). After completing the 12-week lead-in, participants with detectable HCV RNA were allocated to receive an additional 24 weeks of BOC + PR and an additional 12 weeks of PR, for a total of 48 weeks of treatment. At Week 48, participants underwent 12 weeks of follow-up (participation complete at Week 60).

Treatment:

Biological: Peg-interferon alfa-2b

Drug: Boceprevir

Drug: Ribavirin