Janssen-Cilag has launched telaprevir (Incivo) 375mg tablets for the treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C in adult patients with compensated liver disease (including cirrhosis). The drug is licensed for use in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin in patients:

• who are treatment-naïve; or

• who have previously been treated with interferon alfa (pegylated or non-pegylated) alone or in combination with ribavirin, including relapsers, partial responders and null responders

The maximum duration of treatment with telaprevir is 12 weeks. Treatment response is evaluated after week 4, where it is recommended that treatment should not be continued in patients with HCV RNA > 1,000 IU/mL at week 4. 

The cost of a 4-week pack (168 tablets) of telaprevir is £7,466 (exclusive of VAT), and the 12-week course would therefore cost £22,398 (exclusive of VAT).

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is due to publish their recommendations on the use of the drug in June 2012.

Please see link to the SPC below for full prescribing information.