Study C216 (REALIZE)
Study C216 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, trial conducted in subjects who did not achieve SVR with prior treatment with Peg-IFN-alfa-2a/RBV or Peg-IFN-alfa-2b/RBV. The study enrolled prior relapsers (subjects with HCV-RNA undetectable at end of treatment with a pegylated interferon-based regimen, but HCV RNA detectable within 24 weeks of treatment follow-up) and prior non-responders (subjects who did not have undetectable HCV-RNA levels during or at the end of a prior course of at least 12 weeks of treatment). The nonresponder population included 2 subgroups: prior partial responders (greater than or equal to 2-log10 reduction in HCV-RNA at week 12, but not achieving HCV RNA undetectable at end of treatment with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin) and prior null responders (less than 2-log10 reduction in HCV-RNA at week 12 of prior treatment with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin).
Subjects were randomized in a 2:2:1 ratio to one of two INCIVEK combination treatment groups (with and without a Peg-IFN-alfa-2a/RBV lead-in) or a control group. The T12/PR48 group received INCIVEK and Peg-IFN-alfa-2a/RBV for 12 weeks (without a lead-in), followed by placebo and Peg-IFN-alfa-2a/RBV for 4 weeks, followed by Peg-IFN-alfa-2a/RBV for 32 weeks. The T12(DS)/PR48 group had a lead-in (delayed start of INCIVEK) with placebo and Peg-IFN-alfa-2a/RBV for 4 weeks, followed by INCIVEK and Peg-IFN-alfa-2a/RBV for 12 weeks, followed by Peg-IFN-alfa-2a/RBV for 32 weeks. The Pbo/PR48 group received placebo and Peg-IFN-alfa-2a/RBV for 16 weeks, followed by Peg-IFN-alfa-2a/RBV for 32 weeks.
The 662 enrolled subjects had a median age of 51 years (range: 21 to 70); 70% of the subjects were male; 26% had a body mass index greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2; 5% were Black; 11% were Hispanic or Latino; 89% had baseline HCV-RNA levels greater than 800,000 IU/mL; 22% had bridging fibrosis; 26% had cirrhosis; 54% had HCV genotype 1a, and 46% had HCV genotype 1b. Null and partial responders had higher baseline HCV-RNA levels and more advanced liver disease (cirrhosis) than relapsers; other characteristics were similar across these populations.
The lead-in and immediate start regimens produced comparable SVR and no SVR rates, so data from these two groups were pooled (Table 11).
Table 11: Response Rates: Study C216
Treatment Outcome |
All T12/PR48*
% (n/N) |
Pbo/PR48
% (n/N) |
|