Gilead Science Korea said Tuesday that it has presented a large-scale real-world data (RWD) on the clinical efficacy of Harvoni (Ingredient: Sofosbuvir), its hepatitis C treatment, at the Asian Pacific Digestive Week 2018 held in Seoul.

The material presented at the conference included the RWD for Japanese genotype 1 patients taking Harvoni, and the importance of the primary care facility for eradicating hepatitis C in the Asia Pacific region,

Regarding the large-scale real-world data including 1,461 patients with type 1 genotype in Japan, the result showed that 98.4 percent of genotype type 1 patients treated with Harvoni reached sustained virologic response at week 12 (SVR12). The company saw no serious adverse events and confirmed the safety profile of the drug.

The median age of the patients was 69 years old, 29.3 percent of the patients were over 75 years old, and 23.7 percent of the patients had liver cirrhosis.

The company noted that the result showed that Harvoni had proved to be a hepatitis C treatment drug with excellent efficacy regardless of the patient's age and treatment experience.

Gilead also reiterated the importance of early diagnosis of hepatitis C and that the proper treatment of disease could reduce the burden of medical costs for individuals and society.

Particularly, in the Asia-Pacific region, it is essential to establish a strategy that is tailored to the characteristics of each country to combat hepatitis C,” the company said. It is also important to diagnose hepatitis C at local medical institutions so that we can irradiate the disease, it added.

Gilead Sciences Korea CEO Lee Seung-woo also said, “Based on Sofosbuvir-based therapies, which are the backbone of chronic hepatitis C treatment, the company has once again proved Harvoni’s excellent therapeutic effect as well as its safety profile. In recent years, Harvoni's domestic indications and benefits have been expanded, while its prices have been lowered.”

Gilead will continue to strive to create an environment in treating all patients with hepatitis C regardless of age, genotype or cirrhosis, he added.