Efficacy and Safety to Extend Treatment 24 Weeks in co-Infected HIV-HCV Genotype 1 and/or 4

Open, Randomized, Multicenter Phase IV Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety to Extend Treatment 24 Weeks in co-Infected HIV-HCV Patients Genotype 1 and/or 4

A study concerning viral kinetic with 10 co-infected HIV-HCV patients on treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a + ribavirin o IFN + ribavirin was reported in Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections 2002 by Dr. Torriani shown half-life of HCV virions and the viral clearance was larger than mono-infected patients.

The doubt is if this difference in viral kinetic of HIV-HCV co-infected patients versus mono-infected is related with the loss of profited on treatment.

In the APRICOT trial patients genotype 2/3 were treated for 48 weeks and the relapse rates was only 2%.

The present study want to evaluate is the treatment extent for 24 weeks more in patients genotype 1 and/or 4 will be improve the percentage of patients with viral clearance at the end of the follow-up period, to prevent relapsed in patients with response at the end of treatment.

Patients will be randomized to received 180 µg/week of peginterferon alfa-2a + 1000-1200 mg/day of ribavirin during 24 weeks more or control.

To evaluate efficacy of extend treatment during 24 weeks more in co-infected HIV-HCV patients with genotype 1 and/or 4 who at 44 week of treatment with peginterferón alfa-2a in combination with ribavirin have RNA-HCV undetectable.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients on treatment with Peginterferon alfa-2a (180 µg/week) in combination with Ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day) who are RNA-HCV undetectable at 44 week
• RNA-HCV positive at 48 week before study and genotype 1 or 4.
• HIV-1 positive: ELISA y Western-blot.
• Stable status of HIV-1 infection in the opinion of the investigator, (patients who are not expected to progress during the study).
• Negative urine or blood pregnancy test (for women of childbearing potential) documented within the 24-hour period prior to the first dose of study drug. Additionally, all fertile males and females must be using two forms of effective contraception during treatment and during the 6 months after treatment end. This may include, but is not limited to, using birth control pills, IUDs, condoms, diaphragms, or implants, being surgically sterilized, or being in a post-menopausal state.
• Willingness to give written informed consent and willingness to participate to and comply with the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with RNA-HCV detectable after 44 weeks of treatment with Peginterferon alfa-2a (180 µg/week) in combination with Ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day).
• Patients with other treatment for chronic hepatitis, different which of inclusion criteria is described.
• More of tree weeks from the end of treatment with Peginterferon alfa-2a (180 µg/week) in combination with Ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day) to the inclusion in "EXTRADOS" trial.