What has NICE said?
Sofosbuvir–velpatasvir (Epclusa) is recommended as a possible treatment for chronic hepatitis C in adults. See table 1.
Table 1 Sofosbuvir–velpatasvir treatment
|
Type of hepatitis C and liver disease stage |
Treatment recommended by NICE for untreated or treated hepatitis C |
|
1, 4, 5, 6, with or without compensated cirrhosis |
Sofosbuvir–velpatasvir |
|
2, without cirrhosis |
Sofosbuvir–velpatasvir for treated hepatitis C. Sofosbuvir–velpatasvir for untreated hepatitis C only if people can't tolerate interferon or it's not suitable for them. |
|
2, with compensated cirrhosis |
Sofosbuvir–velpatasvir |
|
3, without cirrhosis |
Sofosbuvir–velpatasvir |
|
3, with compensated cirrhosis |
Sofosbuvir–velpatasvir (with or without ribavirin) |
|
1–6, with decompensated cirrhosis |
Sofosbuvir–velpatasvir (with ribavirin) |
If you have chronic hepatitis C, and your doctor thinks that sofosbuvir–velpatasvir is the right treatment, you should be able to have it on the NHS.
Sofosbuvir–velpatasvir should be available on the NHS within 3 months.
If you are not eligible for treatment as described above, you should be able to continue taking sofosbuvir–velpatasvir until you and your doctor decide it is the right time to stop.
The condition and the treatment
Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver that is caused by the hepatitis C virus. There are 6 different types of the virus. Some people who are infected with the hepatitis C virus get rid of it quickly without treatment but most people develop a long‑lasting infection; this is called chronic hepatitis C. People who have chronic hepatitis C may feel well for many years, but the virus can cause liver damage (cirrhosis or scarring) later and can make them feel ill. In compensated cirrhosis, the liver is able to work well enough despite the damage. In decompensated cirrhosis the liver stops working properly.
Sofosbuvir–velpatasvir and interferon are drugs used to treat certain types of the hepatitis C virus. They are sometimes taken with another drug, called ribavirin. They can get rid of the virus in people who have never had treatment or who have had treatment before that didn't get rid of the virus.
NHS Choices may be a good place to find out more.
These organisations can give you advice and support:
-
British Liver Trust, 0800 652 7330
-
Hepatitis C Trust, 0207 089 6221
-
HIV-i-Base, 0208 616 2210
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Liver4Life, 0800 074 3494
-
Terrence Higgins Trust, 0808 802 1221
NICE is not responsible for the quality or accuracy of any information or advice provided by these organisations.