Gilead’s Hepatitis Drugs Tripped By Old Heart Drug

Late last week Gilead Sciences issued a warning about a rare but potentially fatal interaction between its stellar new hepatitis C drug sofosbuvir and amiodarone, a potent but tricky antiarrhythmic agent. Sofosbuvir is marketed as Sovaldi and, in combination with another antiviral agent, as Harvoni. Amiodarone, which is used to treat dangerous heart rhythm problems, has a number of different side effects and an extremely long half-life. Its use is generally reserved for difficult cases.

Gilead reported nine cases of symptomatic bradycardia (slow heart rate). One patient died of a cardiac arrest and 3 patients received a pacemaker.

Click here to read the full post on Forbes.

 

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