Population Pharmacokinetics of Paritaprevir, Ombitasvir, and Ritonavir in Japanese Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1b Infection.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is of considerable clinical concern in Japan. We modeled the population pharmacokinetics of an oral interferon-free, direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA) regimen (i.e., the 2D regimen) recently approved for the treatment of chronic HCV genotype 1 infection as a new option for affected Japanese patients.

METHODS

Using data from a phase III clinical trial (GIFT-I) that enrolled Japanese patients with HCV genotype 1b infection, population pharmacokinetic models were developed for the drugs that comprise the 2D regimen: paritaprevir, ombitasvir, and ritonavir. Demographic and clinical covariates with potential to influence 2D pharmacokinetics were evaluated for their effects on drug exposures. Proposed models were assessed using goodness-of-fit plots, visual predictive checks, and bootstrap evaluations.

RESULTS

One-compartment models with first-order absorption and elimination adequately described the population pharmacokinetics of paritaprevir, ombitasvir, and ritonavir. On average, patients with cirrhosis had approximately 95-145 % higher, 19-24 % lower, and 58-68 % higher exposures of paritaprevir, ombitasvir, and ritonavir, respectively. Female patients had 58-81 % higher ombitasvir exposures, whereas patients with mild renal impairment (creatinine clearance 75 mL/min) had 9-14 % higher ombitasvir exposures than did patients with normal renal function (creatinine clearance 105 mL/min). The DAA exposure values were comparable between responders and non-responders.

CONCLUSION

Population pharmacokinetic modeling did not reveal any patient-related or clinical parameters that would require dose adjustment of the 2D regimen when used for the treatment of HCV genotype 1b infection in Japanese patients.