Conditions: Hepatitis C, Chronic
Keywords: Hepatitis C, Chronic Hepatitis C Hepatitis C virus Interferon Alfa-2a Ribavirin Viral RNA
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 183
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TMC435 compared with placebo in combination with peginterferon alfa-2a (pegIFN alfa-2a) and ribavirin in treatment-naive patients with chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Japan.

Detailed description:
This is a randomized (study drug assigned by chance), 2-arm, double-blind study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TMC435 (also referred to as jnj-38733214-aaa) versus placebo in combination with the standard of care (SoC) therapy (peginterferon alfa-2a \[pegIFN alfa-2a\] and ribavirin) in adult treatment-naïve patients (who never received treatment for HCV) with chronic genotype 1 HCV infection in Japan. The study objective is to evaluate and compare the efficacy of TMC435 vs placebo by the proportion of the patients with undetectable HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA). In the TMC435 treatment group, patients will receive 12 weeks of treatment with TMC435 (100 mg) once daily plus SoC followed by an additional 12 or 36 weeks of treatment with SoC. In the placebo treatment group, patients will receive 12 weeks of treatment with placebo once daily plus SoC followed by an additional 36 weeks of treatment with SoC. TMC435 is a 100-mg capsule and will be taken orally by mouth. The SoC treatment will be given for 24 or 48 weeks. Pegylated interferon is supplied as a vial containing 1.0 mL solution with 180 mcg pegIFN alpha-2a and administered subcutaneously (injected by a syringe under the skin) once weekly. Ribavirin is given as 200-mg tablets (daily dose: 600-1000 mg based on body weight), and taken orally by mouth two times a day after meals.

Arms:
arm 1: Participants received TMC435 100 mg once daily with PegIFNα-2a and ribavirin (PR) for 12 weeks (Wks) followed by PR until Week 24. Treatment was stopped at Week 24 for participants who achieved HCV RNA \< 1.2 log10 IU/mL detectable or undetectable at Week 4, and undetectable HCV RNA at Week 12. All other participants continued PR until Week 48. arm 2: Participants received placebo (PBO) once daily with PegIFNα-2a and ribavirin (PR) for 12 weeks (Wks) followed by PR until Week 48.

Interventions: intervention 1: Placebo intervention 2: TMC435 intervention 3: Peginterferon alfa-2a (pegIFN alfa-2a) intervention 4: Ribavirin (RBV)
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Placebo capsule taken by mouth once daily for 12 weeks intervention 2: 100-mg capsule taken by mouth once daily for 12 weeks intervention 3: PegIFN alfa-2a (PEGASYS) will be administered according to the manufacturer's prescribing information as 180 mcg once weekly injected subcutaneous (under the skin) for up to 24-48 weeks for patients randomized to TMC435 and for up to 48 weeks for patients randomized to placebo. intervention 4: RBV (COPEGUS) will be administered according to the manufacturer's prescribing information. If body weight is \> 80 kg the total daily dose of RBV will be 1000 mg, taken by mouth as 400 mg (2 tablets of 200 mg) after breakfast and 600 mg (3 tablets of 200 mg) after supper. If body weight is \> 60 kg to \<=80 kg the total daily dose will be 800 mg, taken by mouth as 400 mg (2 tablets of 200 mg per intake) after breakfast and supper. If body weight is \<=60 kg the total daily dose of RBV will be 600 mg, taken by mouth as 200 mg (1 tablet of 200 mg) after breakfast and 400 mg (2 tablets of 200 mg) after supper. Total duration of RBV will be 24-48 weeks.

Protocol document: