Hepatitis C After Liver Transplant

Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) who receive orthotopic liver transplants are at risk for recurrence of HCV infection in the transplanted organs. This is known as post-orthotopic liver transplant hepatitis C virus (POLT-HCV) infection.

The outlook for POLT-HCV patients is rapidly changing with increasing use of interferon-free hepatitis C antiviral regimens. These treatments are showing high rates of sustained viral response (SVR) and better tolerability than earlier antiviral therapies.

Although successful treatment with antiviral drugs may clear the post-transplant HCV infection, many patients still experience rapid development of fibrosis due to the recurrence of HCV. This may progress to cirrhosis.

Conatus POLT-HCV-SVR Trial

Conatus is studying emricasan in POLT-HCV-SVR liver transplant recipients. The patients have been successfully treated with HCV antiviral therapy, but have residual liver fibrosis or cirrhosis in the transplanted liver as a result of recurrent post-transplant HCV infection. You can read more about the study at clinicaltrials.gov.