Sofosbuvir, sold under the brand name Sovaldi among others, is a medication used for the treatment of hepatitis C.[1] It is only recommended with some combination of ribavirin, peginterferon-alfa, simeprevir, ledipasvir, daclatasvir, or velpatasvir.[3][4] Cure rates are 30 to 97% depending on the type of hepatitis C virus involved.[5] Safety during pregnancy is unclear; while, some of the medications used in combination may result in harm to the baby.[5] It is taken by mouth.[1]
Common side effects include feeling tired, headache, nausea, and trouble sleeping.[1] Side effects are generally more common in interferon-containing regimens.[6]:7 Sofosbuvir may reactivate hepatitis B in those who have been previously infected.[7] In combination with ledipasvir, daclatasvir or simeprevir it is not recommended with amiodarone due to the risk of an abnormally slow heartbeat.[6] Sofosbuvir is in the nucleotide analog family of medication and works by blocking the hepatitis C NS5B protein.[8]
Sofosbuvir was discovered in 2007 and approved for medical use in the United States in 2013.[3][9] It is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system.[10] As of 2016 a 12-week course of treatment costs about US$84,000 in the United States, US$53,000 in the United Kingdom, US$45,000 in Canada, and US$483 in India.[11] Over 60,000 people were treated with sofosbuvir in its first 30 weeks being sold in the United States.[1