Impact of weight-based ribavirin with peginterferon alfa-2b in African Americans with hepatitis C virus genotype 1

WIN-R (Weight-based dosing of pegINterferon alfa-2b and Ribavirin) was a multicenter, randomized, open-label, investigator-initiated trial involving 236 community and academic sites in the United States, comparing response to pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alfa-2b plus a flat or weight-based dose of ribavirin (RBV) in treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis C and compensated liver disease. Patients were randomized to receive PEG-IFN alfa-2b at 1.5 mu g/kg/week plus flat-dose (800 mg/day) or weight-based-dose RBV (800 mg/day for weight < 65 kg, 1000 mg/day for 65-85 kg, 1200 mg/day for > 85-105 kg, or 1400 mg/day for > 105-< 125 kg). Sustained virologic response (SVR; undetectable [< 125 IU/mL] hepatitis C virus [HCV] RNA at end of follow-up) in patients >= 65 kg was the primary end point Low SVR rates have been reported among African American individuals, in whom there is a preponderance of HCV genotype 1. This subanalysis of WIN-R was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of weight-based dosing among African American individuals with genotype 1 infection enrolled in the trial. Of 362 African American patients in the primary efficacy analysis, 188 received RBV flat dosing and 174 received weight-based dosing. SVR rates were higher (21% versus 10%; P = 0.0006) and relapse rates were lower (22% versus 30%) in the weight-based-dose group than in the flat-dose group. Safety and rates of drug discontinuation were similar between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Weight-based dosing of RBV is more effective than flat dosing in combination with PEG-IFN alfa-2b in African American individuals with HCV genotype 1. Even with weight-based dosing, response rates in African American individuals are lower than reported in other ethnic groups.