Mavyret (glecaprevir/pibrentasvir) is a prescription brand-name medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat certain forms of hepatitis C in some adults and children.

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus. The virus is transmitted through blood and other bodily fluids, such as semen or vaginal fluids.

Here are the basics on Mavyret:

  • Active ingredients: glecaprevir/pibrentasvir
  • Drug class: antiviral
  • Drug form: oral tablet, oral pellets
  • FDA approval year: 2017
  • Available as generic: no

Read on for more information on Mavyret and its use in treating hepatitis C. You can also refer to this article for a comprehensive look at Mavyret.

Mavyret has been shown to be effective at treating hepatitis C infection genotypes 1 to 6 in clinical studies.

Researchers looked at adults who had never received treatment for hepatitis C. The researchers wanted to see how well Mavyret worked at helping people reach what is known as sustained virologic response (SVR). An SVR means that blood tests show the hepatitis C virus is no longer detectable in your body.

Researchers found that giving the adults Mavyret every day for 8, 12, or 16 weeks produced an SVR in nearly everyone in the study.

Guidelines published by the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease and Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend Mavyret as a treatment option for people with hepatitis C genotypes 1 to 6.

The use of Mavyret to treat hepatitis C (its only approved use) may cause side effects that are mild or serious. The lists below include some of the main side effects that have been reported with Mavyret use.

For information on other potential side effects of the drug, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also see our article on Mavyret or refer to the drug’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects

Mild side effects are common with Mavyret treatment. Mild side effects can include:

These side effects of Mavyret may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But if they last for a longer time, or if they bother you or become severe, it’s important to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Mavyret are rare, but can occur. These include:

Call your doctor right away if you develop serious side effects while using Mavyret. If the side effects seem life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

* An allergic reaction is possible after using Mavyret. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials.
† Mavyret has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “Before using Mavyret” section below.

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus. Mavyret works to treat hepatitis C by preventing the virus from replicating (making copies of itself). When a virus is unable to replicate, it will eventually die and be cleared from your body.

Because Mavyret works on viruses, it belongs to a medication class called direct-acting antivirals. (A medication class is a group of medications that work the same way.) Mavyret contains two active medications: glecaprevir and pibrentasvir.

Mavyret and children

Mavyret is approved to treat hepatitis C in children ages 3 years and older. Other criteria must be met as well. These criteria are the same as for adults, so to learn more, see “Who Mavyret is used for” in the “Hepatitis C explained” section below.

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus. The virus is transmitted from person to person through blood and other bodily fluids, such as semen or vaginal fluids. Once inside your body, the hepatitis C virus attacks cells in your liver, causing inflammation.

Hepatitis C can be either acute (short-lasting) or chronic (long-lasting). For reasons not fully understood, acute hepatitis C sometimes clears up without becoming chronic. But more than half of people with acute hepatitis C will develop chronic hepatitis C, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Different strains of hepatitis C exist, called hepatitis C genotypes. Each genotype can cause liver damage. And each one responds differently to various medications. Currently, scientists have identified seven distinct HCV genotypes. Mavyret is approved to treat hepatitis C genotypes 1 to 6.

Symptoms of hepatitis C

Most people with acute hepatitis C don’t develop symptoms. But if you do develop symptoms, they may be similar to other viral infections and include:

Liver inflammation from chronic hepatitis C can cause symptoms such as:

  • abdominal pain
  • dark urine
  • fever
  • jaundice (yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes)
  • joint pain

Left untreated long term, hepatitis C can cause serious health conditions, including cirrhosis (scarring on your liver) and liver cancer.

Who Mavyret is prescribed for

Mavyret is approved to treat certain forms of hepatitis C in some adults and children ages 3 years and older.

Both adults and children must have hepatitis C genotype 1 to 6. They must also have either mild cirrhosis or not have cirrhosis at all. Mild cirrhosis may also be known as compensated cirrhosis.

In addition, the drug is approved for use in adults and children with hepatitis C genotype 1 who have been previously treated with certain kinds of hepatitis C medications. Specifically, they must have received treatment with either:

  • a type of drug called an NS5A inhibitor, such as daclatasvir (Daklinza) or
  • a kind of drug known as an NS3/4A protease inhibitor, such as telaprevir (Incivek) or boceprevir (Victrelis)

To take Mavyret, you cannot have been treated with both an NS5A inhibitor and a NS3/4A protease inhibitor.

Unlike older medications used to treat hepatitis C, Mavyret does cure hepatitis C for many people who are prescribed the medication. Clinical trials have shown Mavyret to be effective at clearing the hepatitis C virus from the body.

Mavyret is approved to treat certain forms of hepatitis C in some adults and children.

Dosage

Mavyret is approved to treat hepatitis C caused by genotypes 1 to 6 if you haven’t received treatment for hepatitis C and don’t have cirrhosis. For this use, the recommended Mavyret dose is three tablets per day for 8 weeks.

If you have hepatitis C genotype 1 to 6 and have compensated (mild) cirrhosis, you’ll likely be treated for 12 weeks.

If you’ve previously been treated for hepatitis C but weren’t cured, your treatment length with Mavyret can vary: 8 weeks to 16 weeks. Your doctor will determine the best course of therapy for you depending on the hepatitis C treatments you tried previously.

Mavyret oral pellets are prescribed instead of tablets for certain children, and for people who have trouble swallowing tablets. You can see this article for details about Mavyret’s dosage.

How to use

Mavyret comes as oral tablets and oral pellets. You should take Mavyret with food.

How often to use

Mavyret should be taken once daily at the same time each day.

Before you use Mavyret, there’s some important information to keep in mind. The drug may not be a safe option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Some of these are mentioned below.

Boxed warning: Reactivation of hepatitis B virus

This drug has a boxed warning. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Taking Mavyret has caused reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in people who have both HBV and hepatitis C. HBV reactivation can cause liver failure and, in rare cases, death. Reactivation of HBV may occur while you’re taking Mavyret or after you finish treatment.

Before you begin taking Mavyret, your doctor will order blood tests to check for HBV infection. (This infection is known as hepatitis B.) If you have HBV or have had it in the past, you may need to be treated for it before it’s safe for you to take Mavyret.

Other warnings

In addition to boxed warnings, Mavyret has other warnings.

If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors are relevant to you, talk with your doctor before using Mavyret:

  • if you have a history of liver disease or liver failure
  • if you’re taking the medication atazanavir (Reyataz)
  • if you’re taking the drug rifampin (Rimactane)
  • if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant
  • if you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed
  • if you’ve had an allergic reaction to Mavyret or any of its ingredients

How much Mavyret costs is based on several factors. These can include your prescribed treatment regimen, the insurance plan you have, the pharmacy you use, and your location. Mavyret is a brand-name medication that isn’t available as a generic.

Now that you’ve learned about Mavyret for hepatitis C, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who can advise you on whether Mavyret might be right for you.

Here are some other helpful references:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.