The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7415 p243
26 August 2006

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NICE extends chronic hepatitis C treatment to mild disease

The use of peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for patients with mild chronic hepatitis C has been given the thumbs up by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in guidance published this week.

The institute now recommends that combination therapy with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin or peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin can be used to treat mild chronic hepatitis C within the drugs’ licensed indications. People who are intolerant of or have contraindications to ribavirin may be treated with peginterferon alfa-2a or peginterferon alfa-2b as monotherapy.

According to NICE, there is insufficient evidence to extend the recommendations to include patients who are under 18 years of age or those who have had a liver transplant.

NICE’s 2004 guidance on the use of interferon alfa, peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic hepatitis remains in effect (PJ, 31 January 2004, p112).

Full guidance from the technology appraisal is available from the NICE website