Study of Nitazoxanide, Peginterferon, and Ribavirin Combination Therapies in the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C (STEALTHC-1)
Chronic Hepatitis C
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Chronic Hepatitis C focused on measuring Hepatitis C
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age ≥18 years.
- Chronic hepatitis C infection (at least 6 months) evidenced by a positive enzyme immunoassay for anti-HCV-antibodies and a positive quantitative RT-PCR amplification of HCV RNA.
- Chronic inflammation on liver biopsy compatible with a diagnosis of chronic viral hepatitis.
- HCV genotype 4.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients who have previously failed to respond to ≥12 weeks of peginterferon-ribavirin combination therapy.
- Females who are either pregnant, breast-feeding or not using birth control and are sexually active.
- Males whose female partners are pregnant.
- Patients with other causes of liver disease (i.e., autoimmune hepatitis, decompensated liver disease).
- Patients co-infected with hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus or hepatitis D virus.
- Patients with a history of alcoholism or with an alcohol consumption of >40 grams per day.
- Patients with hemoglobinopathies (i.e., thalassemia major, sickle-cell anemia).
- Patients with any concomitant condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude evaluation of response or make it unlikely that the contemplated course of therapy and follow-up could be completed.
- History of hypersensitivity or intolerance to any of the excipients comprising the nitazoxanide tablets, peginterferon alfa-2a injectionable solution or ribavirin tablets.
Sites / Locations
- Department of Tropical Medicine & Infectious Diseases, Alexandria University
- Department of Tropical Medicine & Infectious Diseases, Tanta University School of Medicine
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Experimental
Experimental
Active Comparator
Nitazoxanide-Peginterferon
Nitazoxanide-Peginterferon-Ribavirin
Peginterferon-Ribavirin
One oral nitazoxanide 500 mg tablet with food twice daily for 12 weeks followed by 36 weeks of one oral nitazoxanide 500 mg tablet plus weekly injections of 180 µg peginterferon alfa-2a.
One oral nitazoxanide 500 mg tablet with food twice daily for 12 weeks followed by 36 weeks of one oral nitazoxanide 500 mg tablet plus weekly injections of 180 µg peginterferon alfa-2a plus oral ribavirin 1000 mg (body weight <75 kg) or 1200 mg (body weight ≥75 kg) daily in two divided doses.
Weekly injections of 180 µg peginterferon alfa-2a plus oral ribavirin 1000 mg (body weight <75 kg) or 1200 mg (body weight ≥75 kg) daily in two divided doses for 48 weeks.