The European Commission has granted marketing autorisation to novel short-course, all-oral, interferon-free treatments for hepatitis C. The treatments have shown 95 to 100 per cent cure rate in genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C patients, with less than two per cent of patients experiencing virological failure. These new treatments have also shown great tolerability allowing over 98 per cent of patients to complete the full course of the therapy. The European Haemophilia Consortium (EHC) welcomes the news as it will increase treatment options for patients with bleeding disorders affected by hepatitis C. The treatment was also approved for HCV/HIV-1 co-infection and for patients who have undergone liver transplant.

The EHC stongly urges European Member States  to now provide rapid access and reimbursement to these innovative treatments for patients infected by hepatitis C.