1998: The future begins… Ribavirin and interferon
November, 1998: The largest RCT of HCV treatment to date published in NEJM by McHutchinson, et al. and the Hepatitis Interventional Therapy Group.
- Over 900 pts randomized to either IFN alone for 24 or 48 wks or IFN + ribavirin for 24 or 48 wks.
- The results confirmed those of Reichard, et al.
- Combination therapy resulted in significantly higher rates of virological SR than IFN alone at both lengths of therapy, with p < 0.001 for both comparisons.
- NNT with IFN + ribavirin for 24 wks vs. IFN alone to achieve one virological SR = 5.