Federal Government funding of a breakthrough antiviral medicine that can cure all forms of hepatitis C must be matched by a concerted effort to reconnect people living with the liver-destroying virus with clinical care.
Speaking on World Hepatitis Day (28 July), CEO of Hepatitis Australia Helen Tyrrell welcomed the Federal Health Minister’s announcement that the first pan-genotypic antiviral, Epclusa® would be PBS listed from 1 August. The new therapy is more than 90 per cent effective in achieving a cure within 12 weeks, regardless of hepatitis C genotype.
“Australians living with hepatitis C now have unprecedented access to curative therapies; however this is only the first step to eliminating hepatitis C as a public health threat in Australia,” Ms Tyrrell warned.
“Equipping health care professionals to feel confident engaging their patients in conversations about hepatitis C and the availability of cures must now become a focus,” she said.
“We must also communicate to those living with the condition that a life free from hepatitis C can be a reality.”
Epclusa (sofosbuvir 400 mg/velpatasvir 100 mg) is a pan-genotypic regimen for the treatment of adults with genotype 1-6 chronic hepatitis C virus infection. The therapy is used in combination with ribavirin in patients with cirrhosis.