To achieve global hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination by 2030, 80% of the ~71 million people with chronic HCV infection will need to be treated, necessitating simplification of treatment delivery and associated laboratory monitoring without compromising efficacy or safety. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the need for innovative models of health care delivery that minimize face-to-face patient-provider contact. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a minimal monitoring (MINMON) strategy to deliver interferon- and RBV-free, pan-genotypic DAA therapy to treat active HCV in HCV treatment naïve participants.

This study evaluated the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a minimal monitoring (MINMON) strategy of delivering interferon- and ribavirin (RBV)-free, pan-genotypic direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy to treat active hepatitis C virus (HCV) in HCV treatment naïve participants, with or without HIV-1 co-infection, and with no evidence of decompensated cirrhosis.

The MINMON intervention included four components: 1) No pre-treatment HCV genotyping; 2) Entire 12-week treatment course (84 tablets) dispensed to participants at study entry; 3) No scheduled on-treatment laboratory monitoring or clinic visits prior to SVR evaluation scheduled 24 weeks following entry; 4) Remote contact with participants at week 4 for adherence counseling and locator update, and week 22 for scheduling of SVR visit and locator update.

At study entry, all participants received a single-tablet, fixed-dose combination (FDC) of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) for 12 weeks.

The trial was designed to accrue 400 adult participants who may be co-infected with HIV-1 (limited to no more than 200 participants), and whose liver disease state is either no cirrhosis (defined by Fibrosis-4 score) or compensated cirrhosis (defined by Fibrosis-4 and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) scores, and limited to no more than 80 participants). Accrual from research sites in the United States was limited to no more than 132 participants.

The study proceeded in two steps: Step 1: MINMON intervention and Step 2: post-MINMON follow up.

During Step 1 (MINMON intervention), participants were contacted remotely at week 4 to inquire about study medication adherence and confirm locator information, and again at week 22 to schedule the sustained virologic response (SVR) evaluation and confirm locator information. Unplanned in-person clinic visits before week 22 were permissible to address common treatment toxicities that could not be managed remotely. The primary efficacy outcome measure, sustained virologic response (SVR), was evaluated starting at the week 24 study visit. Early discontinuation of treatment did not alter the timing of the SVR evaluation. If the week 24 visit was missed, SVR could be evaluated at any time up to 76 weeks following study entry.

Following SVR evaluation, participants entered Step 2 for two additional post-SVR evaluation study visits at weeks 48 and 72. Participants were contacted remotely at weeks 42 and 68 to schedule such visits. The schedule of additional post-MINMON evaluation visits were dependent on the week of Step 2 entry.

In version 1 of the study, total study duration was up to 76 weeks. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the window of the week 72 visit was extended for participants who completed SVR evaluations and registered to Step 2 to October 31, 2020 for US sites and to February 28, 2021 for non-US sites. This extension did not alter the window for SVR evaluation.

All scheduled in-clinic study visits included a physical exam, blood collection, and collection of plasma samples. For participants able to become pregnant, pregnancy testing was conducted at screening, entry, and at any in-clinic visit during Step 1 if pregnancy was suspected. Liver Elastography was an optional evaluation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Active Hepatitis C (HCV) infection, defined by HCV RNA >1000 international units (IU/mL) within 35 days prior to study entry

• HCV treatment naïve

• Liver disease staged as either non-cirrhotic (Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) Score <3.25) or compensated cirrhotic (FIB-4 Score ≥3.25 and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) ≤Score 6) within 35 days prior to study entry

• HIV-1 negative, or HIV-1 positive with either a) Non-efavirenz containing antiretroviral therapy (ART) started at least 14 days prior to study entry with plasma HIV-1 RNA <400 copies/mL within 90 days prior to study entry or b) not taking ART and CD4+ cell count >350 cells/uL within 90 days prior to study entry

• The following laboratory values obtained within 35 days prior to study entry:

  • Albumin >3.0 g/L
  • Hemoglobin >8.0 g/dL for women; >9.0 g/dL for men
  • Platelet count >50,000/mm^3
  • Calculated creatinine clearance (CrCl) >30 mL/min
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) <10 times the upper limit of the normal range (ULN)
  • Alanine transaminase (ALT) <10 times the ULN
  • Total bilirubin <1.5 times the ULN for participants not on atazanavir (ATV); <3 times the ULN for participants on ATV
  • International normalized ratio (INR) <1.5 times the ULN

• For females of reproductive potential, a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 48 hours prior to study entry

• All participants of reproductive potential must have agreed not to participate in conception process (e.g., active attempt to become pregnant or to impregnate, sperm donation, in vitro fertilization) while on study treatment and for 6 weeks after stopping study treatment

• If participating in sexual activity that could lead to pregnancy, the all participants of reproductive potential had to agree to use at least one reliable methods of contraception while on study treatment and for 6 weeks after stopping study treatment

• Participants who were not of reproductive potential were eligible without requiring the use of contraceptives.

• Life expectancy >12 months

• Ability and willingness to be contacted remotely

• Ability and willingness of participant to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen
• For cirrhotic participants, CTP score >6 corresponding to Class B or C
• Breastfeeding or pregnancy
• Known allergy/sensitivity or any hypersensitivity to components of study drugs or their formulation
• Active drug or alcohol use or dependence and other conditions that, in the opinion of the site investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements.
• Acute or serious illness requiring systemic treatment and/or hospitalization within 35 days prior to study entry
• For HIV positive participants, presence of active or acute AIDS-defining opportunistic infections within 35 days prior to study entry
• Any history of hepatic decompensation including ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, and/or bleeding esophageal varices
• Use of prohibited medications within the past 14 days prior to study entry