Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C During Pregnancy

This is a phase 4, multicenter study, single arm study of Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) for treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection during pregnancy. Participants will be screened between 12+0 and 29+6 weeks of gestation confirmed by ultrasound. HCV RNA level to confirm the patient has active infection will be obtained. Laboratory evaluation of liver function will be obtained, to evaluate for renal insufficiency, decompensated cirrhosis and baseline elevations of lipase and creatine kinase. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigen will be performed to look for evidence of active HBV infection. Medical history and demographic information will also be collected at screening. If the inclusion and exclusion criteria are met, the patient will be enrolled into the study between 20+0 and 30+0 weeks' gestation and initiate a 12-week course of a fixed-dose combination tablet of sofosbuvir 400 mg and velpatasvir 100 mg. Maternal participants will take one SOF/VEL tablet once daily for 12 weeks (84 days). The study will be completed in 8 or 9 visits (6 maternal visits and 3 infant visits). The primary endpoints are 1) maternal HCV RNA PCR 12 weeks after completion of SOF/VEL treatment (HCV RNA PCR below the lower limit of quantification will be considered evidence of SVR12) and 2) preterm delivery (spontaneous and iatrogenic) prior to 37 weeks' gestation. The secondary endpoints are 1) Maternal safety defined as maternal adverse events and pregnancy and delivery outcomes (stillbirth or intrauterine fetal demise, intrapartum hemorrhage, postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, intrauterine growth restriction, cholestasis of pregnancy, severe maternal morbidity (defined by CDC), maternal admission to the intensive care unit, maternal death), 2) composite neonatal/Infant safety endpoints defined as severe neonatal morbidity with admission to neonatal intensive care unit and stratified by perinatal preterm (<37 weeks) (including fetal or neonatal death, severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (grade 3) intraventricular hemorrhage grades III-IV, necrotizing enterocolitis (proven - Bell Stage 2A or greater), periventricular leukomalacia, retinopathy of prematurity stage III-V, or proven sepsis (early or late)) and perinatal term (>= 37 weeks) (including fetal or neonatal death, respiratory support , Apgar score ≤ 3 at 5 minutes, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, seizure, infection (sepsis or pneumonia), birth trauma, meconium aspiration syndrome, intracranial or subgaleal hemorrhage, or hypotension requiring vasopressor support). Other secondary endpoints are admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, neonatal death, major malformations, defined as structural abnormalities with medical, surgical or cosmetic importance, weight, length, and head circumference at birth (by exam or chart review), 8 weeks, six months and 12 months, neurodevelopmental assessments at 6 months and 12 months by Ages & Stages Questionnaires®, and infant HCV RNA PCR viral load at 8 weeks, 6 months and 12 months.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18 through 45 years (inclusive) at screening
• Able and willing to provide written informed consent and take part in the study procedures
• Able and willing to provide adequate locator information, defined as at least two other alternate contacts
• HCV antibody seropositivity with detectable HCV RNA viral load at screening
• Chronic HCV infection of at least 6 months by laboratory report or participant reported medical history as determined by the site PI, or if duration of HCV cannot be determined then the participant can be enrolled if there is no clinical evidence of acute hepatitis C infection (defined by CDC as presence of jaundice or total bilirubin >/= 3.0 mg/dL or ALT >200IU/L)
• Singleton pregnancy at 20 + 0 to 30 + 0 weeks' gestation at enrollment with gestational dating confirmed by ultrasound
• Having a comprehensive anatomy scan with no evidence of major structural abnormalities as defined by the CDC birth surveillance toolkit (https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/surveillancemanual/chapters/chapter-4/chapter4-1.html) or an anomaly that would significantly impact delivery timing or neonatal outcomes as determined by the Protocol Safety Review Team (PSRT) prior to enrollment
• Documented negative Hepatitis B testing for current infection (negative HBsAg test) prior to enrollment
• If living with HIV, must be on antiretroviral therapy with HIV viral load <50 copies/mL on the most recent HIV viral load test within 30 days before enrollment and agree to continue antiretroviral therapy throughout study participation
• If taking acid-suppressant medication(s), willing and able to either discontinue administration during the 12-week period of study treatment or to follow specific dosing instructions for concomitant use with SOF/VEL
• Per participant report at screening and enrollment, agrees not to participate in other research studies involving investigational medications or investigational medical devices for the duration of study participation (does not include duration of infant participation). Note: maternal participants can participate in research studies that include standard of care medications.

Exclusion criteria

• Participant report of any of the following at screening or enrollment:

• Previous DAA treatment for HCV (prior interferon-based treatment is acceptable) without documentation of SVR12 (HCV RNA below the lower limit of quantification at least 24 weeks after DAA initiation)
• Use of any medications contraindicated with concurrent use of velpatasvir or sofosbuvir according to the most current EPCLUSA® package insert30
• Plans to relocate away from the study site area in the next 16 months and unable/unwilling to return for study visits
• History of cirrhosis documented or reported by previous liver biopsy, imaging tests or on at least 2 noninvasive laboratory tests of fibrosis, including compensated cirrhosis
• Reports participating in any other research study involving investigational medications or investigational medical devices within 60 days or less prior to enrollment (does not include research studies involving standard of care medications)
• Known fetal chromosomal abnormality prior to enrollment (confirmed by chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis)
• Clinically significant and habitual non-therapeutic drug use, not including marijuana, as determined by site PI at screening and enrollment
• At screening and enrollment, as determined by site PI, any significant, uncontrolled, active or chronic cardiovascular, renal, liver, hematologic, neurologic, gastrointestinal, psychiatric, endocrine, respiratory, immunologic disorder or infectious disease other than HCV (or HIV as outlined in eligibility criteria)
• Any of the following laboratory abnormalities at screening:

• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine transaminase (ALT) greater than 10 times the upper limit of normal
• Hemoglobin less than 9 g/dL
• Platelet count less than 90,000 per mm3
• International normalized ratio (INR) > 1.5
• Creatinine greater than 1.4
• If living with HIV, CD4 count less than 200 cells/mm3 within 6 months of enrollment.
• Any other condition that, in the opinion of the site PI/designee, would preclude appropriate informed consent, make study participation unsafe, complicate interpretation of study outcome data, or otherwise interfere with achieving study objectives.