glecaprevir + pibrentasvir at a glance
Medicine class
Combination direct-acting antiviral
Main use
Chronic hepatitis C in adults and children from age 3
Food
Take with food
Specialist care
Treatment is started and monitored by an experienced hepatitis C clinician
What is glecaprevir + pibrentasvir used for?
Licensed uses include:
Chronic hepatitis C virus infection in adults.
Chronic hepatitis C virus infection in children aged 3 years and older, using the age- and weight-appropriate formulation.
How does glecaprevir + pibrentasvir work?
Glecaprevir blocks the viral NS3/4A protease needed to process hepatitis C proteins. Pibrentasvir blocks NS5A, which is required for viral RNA replication and assembly. Targeting these separate stages prevents the virus from making effective new copies.
glecaprevir + pibrentasvir preparations and strengths
Sachet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 50 mg + 20 mg
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 100 mg + 40 mg
How to take glecaprevir + pibrentasvir
Follow the specialist team’s instructions and take the medicine with food.
Swallow tablets whole; do not chew, crush or break them.
Sprinkle granules onto a small amount of soft, low-water food that stays on a spoon, then swallow immediately without crushing or chewing.
Do not mix granules with liquids or watery food, or give them through an enteral feeding tube.
glecaprevir + pibrentasvir side effects
Common or expected effects
- Headache
- Tiredness or weakness
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Itching
- Raised bilirubin on blood testing
Get urgent medical advice
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, particularly with breathing or swallowing difficulty
- Significant hypoglycaemia in someone taking diabetes medicines, with symptoms such as confusion, marked sweating or loss of consciousness
glecaprevir + pibrentasvir in pregnancy
Human pregnancy information is limited, so UK product information does not recommend glecaprevir + pibrentasvir during pregnancy as a precaution. Tell the specialist team if pregnancy is planned, suspected or confirmed so treatment options can be reviewed.
glecaprevir + pibrentasvir while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether either component passes into human milk, and risk to a breastfed child cannot be excluded. The prescriber should discuss the benefits of breastfeeding and treatment before deciding whether breastfeeding or therapy should pause.
glecaprevir + pibrentasvir interactions
A complete check of prescribed, non-prescribed and herbal products is essential before treatment.
Atorvastatin or simvastatin
Contraindicated because exposure and toxicity risk can increase substantially.
Dabigatran etexilate
Contraindicated because dabigatran exposure can increase.
Ethinylestradiol-containing contraception or hormone therapy
Contraindicated because of the risk of liver-enzyme elevation; discuss an alternative.
Common questions about glecaprevir + pibrentasvir
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is glecaprevir + pibrentasvir used for?
It is a combination direct-acting antiviral licensed to treat chronic hepatitis C in adults and children aged 3 years and older.
Does glecaprevir + pibrentasvir clear hepatitis C?
It aims to clear hepatitis C, but success must be confirmed by follow-up blood testing and is not guaranteed for every person.
Why must it be taken with food?
Food increases exposure to both antiviral components, helping the body absorb them reliably.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.