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.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.