Randomized, Open-Label, Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Sofosbuvir Tablet Plus Ribavirin Tablet (Part A) Versus Single Dose (2 Tablets) of EHCV Containing Sofosbuvir, Ribavirin, and Natural Anti-hemolytic (B) in Egyptian Adults With Chronic Genotype 4 HCV Infection
Hepatitis c

About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Hepatitis c focused on measuring HCV, Sofosbuvir, Ribavirin
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
Inclusion Criteria for Part A
Subjects must meet all of the following inclusion criteria to be eligible for participation in this study.
- Willing and able to provide written informed consent.
- Male or female, age ≥ 18 years.
- HCV RNA ≥ 104 IU/mL at screening.
Confirmed chronic HCV infection as documented by either:
a. a positive anti-HCV antibody test or positive HCV RNA or positive HCV genotyping test at least 6 months prior to the Baseline/Day 1 visit, or
- HCV genotype 4 at screening as determined by the Central Laboratory. Any non-definitive results will exclude the subject from study participation.
The subject's medical records must be sufficient to categorize prior treatment history as one of the following:
i) IFN-intolerant: subject had documented intolerance to IFN during prior IFN therapy of up to 12 weeks duration ii) Non-response: subject did not achieve undetectable HCV RNA levels on treatment iii) Relapse/Breakthrough: subject achieved undetectable HCV RNA levels during treatment or within 4 weeks after treatment and later showed detectable HCV RNA
An Absence of cirrhosis is defined as any one of the following:
- Liver biopsy within 2 years of Screening showing absence of cirrhosis
- Fibroscan with a result of ≤ 12.5 kPa within 6 months of Baseline/Day1
- FibroTest score of ≤ 0.48 AND APRI of ≤ 1 performed during Screening In the absence of a definitive diagnosis of the presence or absence of cirrhosis by the above criteria, a liver biopsy is required. Liver biopsy results supersede the results obtained by Fibroscan or Fibro Test.
- Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 18 kg/m2.
- Screening ECG without clinically significant abnormalities.
Subjects must have the following laboratory parameters at screening:
- ALT ≤ 10 x the upper limit of normal (ULN)
- AST ≤ 10 x ULN
- Hemoglobin ≥ 12 g/dL for male, ≥ 11 g/dL for female subjects
- Platelets > 50,000 cells/mm3
- INR ≤ 1.5 x ULN unless subject has known hemophilia or is stable on an anticoagulant regimen affecting INR
- Albumin ≥ 3 g/dL
- Direct bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN
- HbA1c ≤ 10%
- Creatinine clearance (CLcr) ≥ 60 mL/min, as calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault equation
- Subject has not been treated with any investigational drug or device within 30 days of the screening visit.
A female subject is eligible to enter the study if it is confirmed that she is:
- Not pregnant or nursing
- Of non-childbearing potential (ie, women who have had a hysterectomy, both ovaries removed or medically documented ovarian failure, or are postmenopausal women > 50 years of age with cessation [for 12 months] of previously occurring menses), or
Of childbearing potential (ie, women who have not had a hysterectomy, both ovaries removed, or no medically documented ovarian failure). Women ≤ 50 years of age with amenorrhea will be considered to be of childbearing potential. These women must have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening and a negative urine pregnancy test on the Baseline/Day 1 visit prior to randomization. They must also agree to one of the following from 3 weeks prior to Baseline/Day 1 until 6 months after last dose of RBV:
- Complete abstinence from intercourse. Periodic abstinence from intercourse (eg, calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods) is not permitted.
Or
- Consistent and correct use of 1 of the following methods of birth control listed below in addition to a male partner who correctly uses a condom from the date of screening until 6 months after the last dose of RBV. Women of childbearing potential must not rely on hormone-containing contraceptives as a form of birth control during the study. Female subjects using a hormone-containing contraceptive prior to screening may continue their contraceptive regimen in addition to the study specified methods of birth control.
- Intrauterine device (IUD) with a failure rate of < 1% per year
- Female barrier method: cervical cap or diaphragm with spermicidal agent
- Tubal sterilization
- Vasectomy in male partner
All male study participants must agree to consistently and correctly use a condom, while their female partner agrees to use either 1 of the non-hormonal methods of birth control listed above or a hormone-containing contraceptive listed below, from the date of screening until 7 months after their last dose of RBV:
- Implants of levonorgestrel
- Injectable progesterone
- Oral contraceptives (either combined or progesterone only)
- Contraceptive vaginal ring
- Transdermal contraceptive patch
- Male subjects must agree to refrain from sperm donation for at least 7 months after the last dose of RBV.
- Subject must be of generally good health as determined by the Investigator.
- Subject must be able to comply with the dosing instructions for study drug administration and able to complete the study schedule of assessments.
Inclusion Criteria for Part B
Subjects must meet all of the following inclusion criteria to be eligible for participation in this study.
- Willing and able to provide written informed consent.
- Male or female, age ≥ 18 years.
- HCV genotype 4 at screening as determined by the Central Laboratory. Any non-definitive results will exclude the subject from study participation. Historical result from prior participation in this study is acceptable, if applicable.
- Cohort 1 only: HCV RNA ≥ 104 IU/mL at screening.
- Chronic HCV infection (≥ 6 months) documented by medical history.
- Cohort 1 only: HCV treatment naïve, defined as no prior exposure to any IFN, RBV, or other approved or experimental HCV specific direct acting antiviral agent
BMI ≥ 18 kg/m2
Absence of cirrhosis is defined as any one of the following:
- Liver biopsy within 2 years of Screening showing absence of cirrhosis
- Fibroscan with a result of ≤ 12.5 kPa within 6 months of Baseline/Day1 C- Fibro Test score of ≤ 0.48 AND APRI of ≤ 1 performed during Screening
In the absence of a definitive diagnosis of the presence or absence of cirrhosis by the above criteria, a liver biopsy is required. Liver biopsy results supersede the results obtained by Fibroscan or Fibro Test.
- Screening ECG without clinically significant abnormalities.
Subjects must have the following laboratory parameters at screening:
- ALT ≤ 10 x the upper limit of normal (ULN)
- AST ≤ 10 x ULN
- Hemoglobin ≥ 12 g/dL for male, ≥ 11 g/dL for female subjects
- Platelets > 50,000 cells/mm3
- INR ≤ 1.5 x ULN unless subject has known hemophilia or is stable on an anticoagulant regimen affecting INR
- Albumin ≥ 3 g/dL
- Direct bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN
- HbA1c ≤ 10%
- Creatinine clearance (CLcr) ≥ 60 mL/min, as calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault equation
Subjects who received prior treatment in this study and who currently do not fulfill all of the above requirements may be enrolled in Part B Cohort 2 at the request of the Investigator and with the approval of the Medical Monitor or Study Director.
- Subject has not been treated with any investigational drug or device within 28 days of the Baseline/Day 1 visit.
A female subject is eligible to enter the study if it is confirmed that she is:
D Not pregnant or nursing e Of non-childbearing potential (ie, women who have had a hysterectomy, both ovaries removed or medically documented ovarian failure, or are postmenopausal women > 50 years of age with cessation [for 12 months] of previously occurring menses), or
F Of childbearing potential (ie, women who have not had a hysterectomy, both ovaries removed, or no medically documented ovarian failure). Women ≤ 50 years of age with amenorrhea will be considered to be of childbearing potential. These women must have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening and a negative urine pregnancy test on the Baseline/Day 1 visit prior to randomization. They must also agree to one of the following from 3 weeks prior to Baseline/Day 1 until 30 days after the last dose of LDV/SOF or 6 months after last dose of RBV:
• Complete abstinence from intercourse. Periodic abstinence from intercourse (eg, calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods) is not permitted.
Or
- Consistent and correct use of 1 of the following methods of birth control listed below in addition to a male partner who correctly uses a condom from the date of screening until 30 days after the last dose of LDV/SOF or 6 months after the last dose of RBV.
- Intrauterine device (IUD) with a failure rate of < 1% per year
- Female barrier method: cervical cap or diaphragm with spermicidal agent
- Tubal sterilization
- Vasectomy in male partner
- Implants of levonorgestrel
- Injectable progesterone
- Oral contraceptives (either combined or progesterone only)
- Contraceptive vaginal ring
- Transdermal contraceptive patch
- All male study participants must agree to consistently and correctly use a condom from Baseline until 90 days after their last dose of LDV/SOF or 7 months after their last dose of RBV. If their female partner is of childbearing potential (as defined above), she must use 1 of the methods of birth control listed above from the date of screening until 90 days after their last dose of LDV/SOF or 7 months after their last dose of RBV.
- Male subjects must agree to refrain from sperm donation for at least 7 months after the last dose of RBV or 90 days after their last dose of LDV/SOF, as applicable.
- Subject must be of generally good health as determined by the Investigator.
- Subject must be able to comply with the dosing instructions for study drug administration and able to complete the study schedule of assessments.
Exclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria for Part A
Subjects who meet any of the following exclusion criteria are not to be enrolled in this study.
- for treatment naïve subjects only: Prior exposure to IFN, RBV, or other approved or experimental direct-acting antiviral targeting the HCV.
- for treatment-experienced subjects: prior exposure to a NS5a inhibitor, NS5b nucleotide inhibitor, or NS5b non-nucleotide inhibitor targeting the HCV
- Pregnant or nursing female or male with pregnant female partner.
- Chronic liver disease of a non-HCV etiology (eg, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, α1 antitrypsin deficiency, cholangitis).
- Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
- Contraindication to RBV therapy e.g., history of clinically significant hemoglobinopathy (sickle cell disease, thalassemia).
- History of malignancy diagnosed or treated within 5 years (recent localized treatment of squamous or non-invasive basal cell skin cancers is permitted; cervical carcinoma in situ is allowed if appropriately treated prior to screening); subjects under evaluation for malignancy are not eligible.
- Chronic use of systemically administered immunosuppressive agents (eg, prednisone equivalent > 10 mg/day).
- Clinically-relevant drug or alcohol abuse within 12 months of screening. A positive drug screen will exclude subjects unless it can be explained by a prescribed medication; the diagnosis and prescription should be approved by the investigator.
- History of solid organ transplantation.
- Current or prior history of clinical hepatic decompensation (eg, ascites, variceal hemorrhage, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome and hepatopulmonary syndrome).
- History of clinically-significant illness or any other major medical disorder that may interfere with subject treatment, assessment or compliance with the protocol.
- History of a gastrointestinal disorder (or post-operative condition) that could interfere with the absorption of the study drug.
- History of significant pulmonary disease, significant cardiac disease or porphyria.
- Excessive alcohol ingestion, defined as 3 glasses/day (1 glass is equivalent to 284 mL beer, 125 mL wine, or 25 mL distilled spirits) for females and 4 glasses/day for males.
- History of difficulty with blood collection and/or poor venous access for the purposes of phlebotomy.
- Donation or loss of more than 400 mL blood within 2 months prior to Baseline/Day 1.
- Known hypersensitivity to RBV, the study investigational medicinal product, the metabolites, or formulation excipients.
Exclusion Criteria for Part B
Subjects who meet any of the following exclusion criteria are not to be enrolled in this study.
- For treatment naïve subjects only (Cohort 1): Prior exposure to IFN, RBV, or other approved or experimental direct-acting antiviral targeting the HCV.
Current or prior history of any of the following:
A Clinical hepatic decompensation (ie, ascites, encephalopathy or variceal hemorrhage) B Clinically-significant illness (other than HCV) or any other major medical disorder that may interfere with subject treatment, assessment or compliance with the protocol, or, current evaluation for a potentially clinically significant illness (other than HCV) C Gastrointestinal disorder or post-operative condition that could interfere with the absorption of the study drug D Solid organ transplantation E Significant pulmonary disease, significant cardiac disease or porphyria F Psychiatric hospitalization, suicide attempt, and/or a period of disability as a result of their psychiatric illness within the last 5 years Subjects with psychiatric illness (without the prior mentioned conditions) that is well-controlled on a stable treatment regimen for at least 6 months prior to Baseline/Day 1 or that has not required medication in the last 12 months may be enrolled.
G Any malignancy within the 5 years prior to screening, with the exception of specific cancers that are cured by surgical resection (basal cell skin cancer, etc.), or current evaluation for possible malignancy H Difficulty with blood collection and/or poor venous access for the purposes of phlebotomy I Significant drug allergy (such as anaphylaxis or hepatotoxicity)
- Chronic liver disease of a non-HCV etiology (eg, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, α1 antitrypsin deficiency, cholangitis)
- Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Use of any prohibited concomitant medications
- Contraindication to RBV therapy, including significant history of clinically significant hemoglobinopathy (eg, sickle cell disease, thalassemia)
- In the judgment of the investigatory, any clinically-relevant drug or alcohol abuse within 12 months of screening that may interfere with subject treatment, assessment of compliance with the protocol
- Pregnant or nursing females or male with pregnant female partner
- Known hypersensitivity to RBV, SOF, or formulation excipients
Sites / Locations
- Egyptian Liver Hospital
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Experimental
SOF + RBV
sof + RBV + AH
Sofosbuvir 400 mg once daily +RBV (1000 mg/day) for 12-24 weeks
Single Dose (2 tablets) once daily each tablet containing SOF 200 mg, RBV 500 mg and Natural anti-hemolytic (AH) at 200 mg for 12-24 weeks