Theme: Models of Care Year: 2022
Background:
The Malmö needle exchange program (MNEP) was identified as a potential platform for
comprehensive hepatitis C (HCV) management. The MNEP reaches 600 annual participants (over
5200 persons since the start in 1987).
Description of model of care/intervention:
Fifty actively injecting MNEP participants with HCV were enrolled between April 2018 and May 2019
for treatment with a fixed-dose combination of once-daily glecaprevir/pibrentasvir for 8 or 12
weeks. Patients were monitored weekly during treatment with collection of data on adherence and
side effects. Viral load was measured on regular intervals prior to, during and after treatment, the
primary endpoint being SVR12. Patients will be monitored for reinfections for 5 years posttreatment and assessed by ID- and addiction care specialists throughout the follow-up period.
Effectiveness:
The majority, 47/50 (94%) patients completed treatment. 45/50 were HCV RNA negative at 12 weeks
post treatment. Two patients were HCV RNA negative already after one week of treatment, 6 more
after two weeks. In total, 25/45 (56 %) were RNA negative after 4 weeks of treatment. The SVR12
rate per ITT was 90% and per protocol 96%. The mean adherence per week, according to pill count,
was 98%. During the follow-up period so far (Q1 2022), 8 re-infections have been identified (all
male), corresponding to 9,5 cases/100 person years under risk. Two patients received treatment and
reached SVR12 for the second time. Two patients achieved spontaneous viral clearance. One patient
has ongoing treatment, while two are awaiting treatment start. One viremic patient is under
institutionalized care and should be assessed for treatment.
Conclusion and next steps:
To engage people who inject drugs (PWID) in HCV care, innovative models of care may be provided
by a well-equipped NEP. Reinfections can thus be detected quickly and new treatment offered to the
patient as well as identified contacts.
Disclosure of Interest Statement:
AbbVie has generously provided medication for the Actionne-study, but has no impact on the study
performance, data collection nor analysis, publications and presentations.