In final draft guidance published today NICE has recommended simeprevir sodium (Olysio, Janssen) as a treatment option for some people with chronic hepatitis C.

The draft guidance recommends simeprevir, in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, as an option for treating both genotypes 1 and 4 chronic hepatitis C in adults.

Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver and is thought that around 160,000 people are chronically infected with the virus in England. It is spread by contact with infected blood, for instance by using contaminated needles for injecting drugs or sharing razors or toothbrushes. The virus can cause inflammation of, and damage to the liver, preventing it from working properly.

About 1 in 3 people infected with the hepatitis C virus will eventually develop liver cirrhosis, where normal liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue. A small percentage of people with chronic hepatitis C and cirrhosis may require a liver transplant and some may develop liver cancer.  

The aims of treatment are to clear the virus from the blood to prevent progression of liver disease, and to prevent the transmission of the hepatitis C virus.

Simeprevir is administered orally and works by inhibiting the replication of the hepatitis C virus.

For more details, go to: https://www.nice.org.uk/news/press-and-media/nice-recommends-simeprevir-olysio-in-combination-with-peginterferon-alfa-and-ribavirin-for-treating-hepatitis-c-in-final-draft-guidance