Why carry out this study?

The elimination of HCV infection in Italy is a possibility; however, barriers remain to achieving the WHO HCV elimination goal of 2030, as well as the expected disruption to elimination efforts due to COVID-19.

A shorter, 8-week treatment duration of G/P may help reduce the burden on healthcare resources and allow reallocation to increase treatment capacity for HCV.

This study presents the benefits to healthcare resources that 8-week vs 12-week treatment with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (G/P) may have in Italy.

What was learned from the study?

The resources saved through shortened G/P treatment would increase the capacity to treat by 5064 (1.4%) more patients, avoid 2257 cases of end-stage liver disease, 893 liver-related deaths, and provide a net savings to the healthcare system of nearly €70 million.

Shorter treatment duration can lead to greater resource savings which has the potential to enable treatment of more patients and overcome elimination barriers in Italy.