Treatment of Genotype 1 Hepatitis C patients with severe fibrosis or compensated cirrhosis: the telaprevir early access program in patients from Austria and Switzerland

Background: HEP3002 is an ongoing, open-label, early access program of telaprevir in 16 countries, for adult patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C with severe fibrosis or compensated cirrhosis. Methods: Patients were treated with telaprevir, pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin (PR) for 12 weeks, followed by PR alone. Liver biopsy or non-invasive tests showing severe fibrosis or cirrhosis and platelet count > 90 000/mm3 were required at entry. This interim analysis included 16-week data from 36 patients enrolled in Switzerland (n = 15) and Austria (n = 21). Results: Patients mean age was 51 years; mea…