British Columbia PharmaCare Lists AbbVie's Hepatitis C Treatment MAVIRET™ on its Formulary

• British Columbia PharmaCare lists MAVIRET on its formulary effective March 21, 2019
• MAVIRET is the first and only 8-week, pan-genotypic treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients without cirrhosis and who are new to treatment^*1
• MAVIRET is the only pan-genotypic treatment approved for use in patients across all stages of chronic kidney disease

MONTREAL, March 22, 2019 /CNW/ - AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global, research and development-based biopharmaceutical company, announced that MAVIRET™ (glecaprevir/pibrentasvir tablets) is now reimbursed in British Columbia. MAVIRET is a once-daily, ribavirin-free treatment for adults with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection across all major genotypes (GT1-6).² It is the only 8-week, pan-genotypic treatment for patients without cirrhosis and who are new to treatment.^*

MAVIRET™ (CNW Group/AbbVie)

In British Columbia, MAVIRET is reimbursed for the treatment of treatment-naïve or treatment-experienced adult patients with chronic hepatitis C including all genotypes 1-6. The listing became effective on March 21, 2019.³

"Hepatitis C represents a crisis in Canada and around the world. But it doesn't have to be the case for much longer. We now have the ability to effectively screen, diagnose, treat and cure people living with this devastating disease," explains Dr. Brian Conway, Infectious Diseases Specialist and medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Disease Centre. "When treatment is initiated earlier, with options such as MAVIRET, we have the potential to reduce transmission rates, the risk of death from associated conditions such as liver cancer and the long-term management costs of this disease. MAVIRET is an important tool to help us achieve the World Health Organization objective of eliminating HCV as a public health concern in Canada by 2030."

Approximately 300,000 Canadians are infected with hepatitis C.⁴ British Columbia has the highest rate of hepatitis C in Canada. There are an estimated 80,000 people living with the virus in the province and about 2,500 new cases of hepatitis C are identified each year.⁵

"The vision of our organization is for British Columbia to be free from new hepatitis C cases, while offering the best possible care and support for those already living with this disease," said Daryl Luster, President of the Pacific Hepatitis C Network (PHCN). "Today, I am optimistic that this is well within our reach because we already have the right treatments that offer high cures. By collaborating together, we will be able to move towards the elimination of the hepatitis C virus in British Columbia and Canada."

The efficacy and safety of MAVIRET was evaluated in nine Phase 2-3 clinical trials, in over 2,300 patients with genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 HCV infection and with compensated liver disease (with or without cirrhosis).

About MAVIRET™
MAVIRET™ is indicated in Canada for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in adults across all major genotypes (GT1-6).⁶ MAVIRET is a pan-genotypic, once-daily, ribavirin-free treatment that combines glecaprevir (100 mg), an NS3/4A protease inhibitor, and pibrentasvir (40 mg), an NS5A inhibitor, dosed once-daily as three oral tablets.⁶

MAVIRET is an 8-week, pan-genotypic virologic cure^** for use in patients without cirrhosis and who are new to treatment,^*1 such patients comprising the majority of people living with HCV. MAVIRET is also approved as a treatment for patients with specific treatment challenges, including those with compensated cirrhosis across all major genotypes, and those who previously had limited treatment options, such as patients with severe chronic kidney disease (CKD), post-liver and -renal transplant recipients *** and those patients with genotype 3 infection.⁶ It is the only pan-genotypic treatment approved for use in patients across all stages of CKD.⁶

Glecaprevir (GLE) was discovered during the ongoing collaboration between AbbVie and Enanta Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ENTA) for HCV protease inhibitors and regimens that include protease inhibitors.

*Patients without cirrhosis and new to treatment with DAAs [either treatment-naive or not cured with previous IFN-based treatments ([peg]IFN +/- RBV or SOF/RBV +/- pegIFN)].
**Patients who achieve a sustained virologic response at 12 weeks post treatment (SVR₁₂) are considered cured of hepatitis C. 
***MAVIRET is recommended for 12 weeks in liver or kidney transplant recipients who are HCV GT-1 to 6 treatment-naïve (TN) or GT-1, -2, -4, -5, -6 PRS- treatment experienced. A 16-week treatment duration should be considered in transplant patients who are GT-1 NS5A inhibitorexperienced (NS3/4A inhibitor-naïve) or GT-3 PRS- treatment experienced.

About AbbVie
AbbVie is a global, research and development-based biopharmaceutical company committed to developing innovative advanced therapies for some of the world's most complex and critical conditions. The company's mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to markedly improve treatments across four primary therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, virology and neuroscience. In more than 75 countries, AbbVie employees are working every day to advance health solutions for people around the world. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.ca and www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvieCanada and @abbvie on Twitter or view careers on our Facebook or LinkedIn page.

¹ Decisions Resources Group. Hepatitis C virus: disease landscape & forecast 2016. January 2017.
² CADTH Canadian Drug Expert Committee Recommendation – Final: https://www.cadth.ca/sites/default/files/cdr/complete/SR0523_Maviret_complete-Jan-25-18.pdf. Accessed March 2019.
³ British Columbia Pharmacare. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/pharmacare/prescribers/limited-coverage-drug-program/limited-coverage-drugs-glecaprevir-pibrentasvir. Accessed March 2019. 
⁴ The Canadian Liver Foundation. https://www.liver.ca/how-you-help/advocate/. Accessed March 2019.
⁵ British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS. Hepatitis C (HCV) Fact sheet. http://www.cfenet.ubc.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/HCV%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf. Accessed March 2019.
⁶ MAVIRET (glecaprevir/pibrentasvir tablets) Product Monograph. Date of Preparation: August 16, 2017. Date of Revision: November 28, 2018. http://www.abbvie.ca/content/dam/abbviecorp/ca/en/docs/MAVIRET_PM_EN.pdf. Accessed March 2019.

SOURCE AbbVie

Media: Muriel Haraoui, AbbVie Canada, [phone], [email protected]