Similarities and Differences Between REPEAT and EPIC3
Authors: Thierry Poynard
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2009)

Letters17 November 2009Similarities and Differences Between REPEAT and EPIC3Thierry Poynard, MD, PhD and Eugene ShiffThierry Poynard, MD, PhDFrom Paris University Pierre et Marie Curie Liver Center, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris 75013, France, and University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136.Search for more papers by this author and Eugene ShiffFrom Paris University Pierre et Marie Curie Liver Center, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris 75013, France, and University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-151-10-200911170-00014 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Jensen and colleagues (1) compare their study (REPEAT [Retreatment with Pegasys in Patients Not Responding to Peg-Intron Therapy]) to the EPIC3 (Evaluation of PegIntron in Control of Hepatitis C Cirrhosis) nonresponder trial (2). As principal investigators of the EPIC3 trial, we can clarify some key differences and similarities between the 2 trials.The EPIC3 program was designed to assess the benefit of retreatment in patients with advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis, whereas the REPEAT trial assesses retreatment regardless of fibrosis status. Indeed, 42% of patients in EPIC3 had cirrhosis, 29% had bridging fibrosis (71% of patients combined), and ...References1. Jensen DM, Marcellin P, Freilich B, Andreone P, Di Bisceglie A, Brandão-Mello CE, et al. Re-treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C who do not respond to peginterferon-alpha2b: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2009;150:528-40. [PMID: 19380853] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Poynard T, Colombo M, Bruix J, Schiff E, Terg R, Flamm S, et al; EPIC Study Group. Peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin: effective in patients with hepatitis C who failed interferon alfa/ribavirin therapy. Gastroenterology. 2009;136:1618-28.e2. [PMID: 19208349] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Poynard T, Schiff E, Terg R, Goncales F, Diago M, Reichen J, et al. Sustained virologic response (SVR) in the EPIC3 trial: week twelve virology predicts SVR in previous interferon/ribavirin treatment failures receiving peg-intron/rebetol (PR) weight based dosing (WBD) [Abstract]. J Hepatol. 42. Abstract 96. Google Scholar4. Poynard T, Schiff E, Terg R, Goncales F, Flamm S, Diago M, et al. Sustained virologic response (SVR) with peg-interferon-alfa 2b/ribavirin weight based dosing in previous interferon/ribavirin HCV treatment failures; week 12 virology as a predictor of SVR in the EPIC3 trials [Abstract]. Gastroenterology. 2005;128. Abstract 5. Google Scholar5. Poynard T, Schiff E, Terg R, Moreno Otoro R, Flamm S, Schmidt W, et al. HCV RNA negativity after 12 weeks of therapy is the best predictor of sustained viral response (SVR) in the re-treatment of previous interferon-a/ribavirin non-responders (NR): results from the EPIC3 program [Abstract]. Hepatology. 2006;44 (suppl 1):606A. Abstract 1123. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Thierry Poynard, MD, PhD; Eugene ShiffAffiliations: From Paris University Pierre et Marie Curie Liver Center, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris 75013, France, and University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136.Disclosures:Employment: T. Poynard (Schering-Plough, Roche, Vertex, Gilead); E. Shiff (Schering-Plough). PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoRe-treatment of Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Who Do Not Respond to Peginterferon-α2b Donald M. Jensen , Patrick Marcellin , Bradley Freilich , Pietro Andreone , Adrian Di Bisceglie , Carlos E. Brandão-Mello , K. Rajender Reddy , Antonio Craxi , Antonio Olveira Martin , Gerlinde Teuber , Diethelm Messinger , James A. Thommes , and Andreas Tietz Similarities and Differences Between REPEAT and EPIC3 Donald M. Jensen and Patrick Marcellin Metrics 17 November 2009Volume 151, Issue 10Page: 754KeywordsCirrhosisConflicts of interestFibrosisHepatitis CHepatitis C virusLiverLiver diseasesPatientsSystemic vascular resistance ePublished: 17 November 2009 Issue Published: 17 November 2009 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2009 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...