Impact of Specialty Pharmacy on Telaprevir-Containing 3-Drug Hepatitis C Regimen Persistence

摘要

BACKGROUND: Although the recommended treatment of hepatitis C continues to evolve as newer and more effective medications are made available, hepatitis C drug regimens consisting of a 3-drug combination of a protease inhibitor, pegylated Interferon, and ribavirin were recommended by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases for the HCV genotype I beginning In 2011. Although more effective than the earlier standard of care, these regimens have complex dosing schedules, prolonged duration, and deleterious side effects. it has been shown that patients tend to discontinue these regimens prematurely. Specialty pharmacies offer specialized care management programs to hepatitis C patients, consisting of such services as regularly scheduled patient counseling, assessing regimen appropriateness, monitoring treatment progress, scheduling refill reminders, and coordinating patient care with prescribers. The use of specialty pharmacies by hepatitis C patients may improve persistence on the 3-drug hepatitis C regimens.