In April 2016, the World Health Organization issued the updated Guidelines for the screening, care and treatment of persons with chronic hepatitis C infection.
The first version of the Guidelines was published in 2014. Since then, new direct acting antivirals (DAAs) have been introduced, allowing to improve cure rates up to 90% or higher, minimize side effects and shorten the duration of treatment.
In the updated version of the Guidelines, the peginterferon and ribavirin regimens were replaced with regimens using new-generation DAAs (taking into account specifics of certain patient groups). Telaprevir and boceprevir, as well as their combinations with peginterferon and ribavirin, are no longer recommended for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
Ludmila Maistat, Senior Programme Manager: Hepatitis/HIV Policy and Advocacy in Alliance for Public Health, who is a member of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Committee for Viral Hepatitis, participated in the development of 2014 Guidelines as well as their updated version.
It is expected that the Guidelines will be regularly updated with the introduction of new drugs and regimens.
You may find the policy brief here.