FDA approves new treatment for hepatitis C genotype 3 infections

NEW YORK — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 3 infections. Daklinza (daclatasvir), in combination with sofosbuvir, is the first drug that works to treat this particular virus without necessitating the co-administration of interferon or ribavirin.

Approximately 2.7 million Americans are infected with HCV, 10% of whom are infected with HCV genotype 3.

“Today’s approval provides a new option for patients with genotype 3 HCV, including those patients who cannot tolerate ribavirin,” said Dr. Edward Cox, director of the Office of Antimicrobial Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.