Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment drugs--such as Harvoni, Sovaldi, Viekira Pak, and Technivie--are classified as Direct Acting Antiviral Agents (DAAs). The relationship between DAA treatment and liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is a complex one that has been the subject of several studies in the past year. While … [Read more...]
August Update: Possible Link Between Hepatitis C Drugs & Liver Cancer
In the past several years, there has been much controversy surrounding the possible link between a class of Hepatitis C drugs known as direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or liver cancer. The DAA drugs include Harvoni, Sovaldi, Viekira Pak, Technivie, Olysio, Daklinza, Epclusa, and Zepatier. In July, I wrote an … [Read more...]
July 2017 Update: Any Link Between Hepatitis C Drugs and Liver Cancer?
A recent study from the July 2017 edition of Gastroenterology sought to investigate the relationship between Direct Acting Antiviral Agents (DAA) -- such as Harvoni, Sovaldi, Viekira Pak, and Technivie -- and liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Previously, the medical literature on this subject was relatively sparse, as well as … [Read more...]
No Link Seen Between Sovaldi Or Harvoni And Liver Cancer Recurrence
We continue to monitor the safety profile of Harvoni and Sovaldi, which have been associated with the possibility of liver cancer recurrence. The May 2017 edition of Health Product InfoWatch included this report, “Summary Safety Review – Direct-Acting Antivirals – Assessing the Potential Risk of Liver Cancer Recurrence”, which was issued on … [Read more...]
Can Hepatitis C Drugs Harvoni Or Sovaldi Cause Return Of Liver Cancer?
In April 2017 this news report, “The Link Between Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy for Hepatitis C Virus and Liver Cancer Risk Continues To Be Debated”, was published on the PracticeUpdate website. This recent report draws upon eight new medical studies which were presented at the International Liver Congress 2017, from April 19 to 23, 2017, in … [Read more...]
Safety of Hepatitis C Treatment Drugs Called Into Question
UPDATE: On February 14, 2017, the FDA released a Black Box warning for these drugs with the following text:Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation has been reported, in some cases resulting in fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure, and death.(2/16/17).Recently, the safety of the newer hepatitis C treatment drugs -- such as Solvadi and Harvoni -- is … [Read more...]
Is The Risk Of Liver Cancer Increased From Use Of Harvoni Or Sovaldi?
As regards the liver cancer risks that have been mentioned in connection with the hepatitis C drugs Sovaldi and Harvoni, during the past nine months there have been mixed messages about whether there is an apparent side-effect situation or not. We start our update on this still emerging drug safety issue with this April 2016 Medscape news … [Read more...]
Black-Box Warning For Harvoni, Sovaldi, Viekira Pak: Hepatitis B Risk
Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are a class of prescription medicines that are FDA-approved to treat adults with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. These medicines are available as single-ingredient products and also in combination with other HCV medicines. Here is a list of direct-acting antivirals currently available in the US: Daklinza … [Read more...]