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Initial Dosing in Therapy of Chronic Viral Hepatitis C

Purpose: To plan the initial dosing of Copegus (ribavirin) and Pegasys (pegylated interferon alfa-2b) for a patient with chronic viral hepatitis C.

Description

Chronic viral hepatitis C can be treated using combination therapy with the Copegus formulation of ribavirin (Roche Pharmaceuticals) and Pegasys formulation of pegylated interferon alfa-2b (Roche Pharmaceuticals). Initial dosing is based on the viral genotype and clinical findings in the patient.


 

Pegasys is a recombinant interferon conjugated to polyethylene glycol.

 

Parameters:

(1) viral genotype

(2) body weight of patient

(3) cardiac status

(4) renal status

 

Genotype

Dose Pegasys

Dose Copegus

1

180 µg

< 75 kg 1000 mg (500 mg bid)

>= 75 kg 1200 mg (600 mg bid)

2

180 µg

800 mg (400 mg bid)

3

180 µg

800 mg (400 mg bid)

4

180 µg

< 75 kg 1000 mg (500 mg bid)

>= 75 kg 1200 mg (600 mg bid)

5

insufficient data

insufficient data

6

insufficient data

insufficient data

 

Duration of therapy:

(1) genotypes 1 and 4: 48 weeks

(2) genotypes 2 and 3: 24 weeks

(3) genotypes 5 and 6: insufficient data available

 

Copegus:

(1) should be administered with caution in a patient with pre-existing cardiac disease.

(2) is contraindicated if the creatinine clearance is < 50 mL/min.

(3) is administered with food.

 


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Specialty

Objective

ICD-10