Ledikast

Ledikast is used for the treatment of Hepatitis C, manufactured by Natco Pharma and marketed by Aprazer.

Ledikast is a combination of two anti-viral drugs utilized for patients with Hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection. Based on the genotype of HCV, the fixed-dose combination (FDC) (ledipasvir + sofosbuvir) is recommended against HCV genotype 1, 4, 5 or 6 in adults.

Both ledipasvir and sofosbuvir are direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs that selectively inhibit HCV NS5A and NS5B proteins respectively. These proteins are crucial for multiplication (RNA replication and virion assembly) of viral cells, reducing their load in the system. The FDC provides a sustained virologic response (SVR) in between 93% to 99% after 12 weeks of treatment.

Administration of Ledikast:

The drug is administered in a form a fixed-dose combination i.e. 1 tablet (ledipasvir + sofosbuvir combination) once daily. It can be taken with or without food.

Table: Suggested dosage of Ledikast in HCV patients:

Note:

• Therapy-naïve: Patients without any earlier treatment
• Therapy-experienced: Patients who had therapy earlier, including a failed therapy comprising of peginterferon/ribavirin or peginterferon alfa/ribavirin/HCV protease inhibitor

Once swallowed, ledipasvir takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes to completely absorb (bio-available) whereas sofosbuvir takes around 30 minutes-2 hours. The binding affinity with viral cells is higher in ledipasvir (99.8%) as compared to sofosbuvir (61% to 65%). Once all activities are done, the approximate time for 50% of the drug to be excreted out from the body is 47 hours for ledipasvir and 40 minutes-27 hours for sofosbuvir.

When should (ledipasvir 90mg + sofosbuvir 400mg) be avoided or used cautiously?

If patients,

• Are suffering from or had a history of Hepatitis B viral infection
• Feel their heartbeat is very slow (bradycardia) (Caution: Immediately consult your doctor)
• Have kidney disease or undergoing dialysis
• Had a liver transplant before the initiation of dosage
• Have complications in the liver other than HCV infection
• Have any other severe medical condition
• Are taking any sort of non-prescribed or prescribed drugs, herbal medicines, or dietary supplementary
• Are allergic to food, medicines or other substances
• Are pregnant and planning to breastfeed

Note: Avoid having intercourse (sex) without condoms, HCV may spread to your partner even if you are undergoing treatment.

Side-effects of Ledikast:

Most common side-effects:

• Headache
• Tiredness (Fatigue)
• Abnormal physical weakness (Asthenia)

Severe side-effects:

Slow heart-rate (bradycardia) bradycardia is defined as a heart rate that is slower than normal. Adults’ hearts beat between 60 and 100 times per minute while they are at rest.

Uncommon side-effects:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Lack of sleep (Insomnia)
• General weakness
• Depression
• Skin rashes
• Pain in the muscles (Myalgia)
• Shortness of breath (Dyspnea)
• Dizziness

 Note: These are not all possible side-effects of Ledikast, please ask your doctor for more information regarding the same.

Ledikast is also available in these countries: (South East Asia, South America, Eastern Europe, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Republic of Kosovo, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovak Republic and Slovenia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Venezuela and Korea.) and many more…)