Sofosbuvir (SOF) Suppresses Ledipasvir (LDV)-resistant Mutants during SOF/LDV Combination Therapy against Genotype 1b Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

Our objective was to identify drug interactions between ledipasvir (LDV) and sofosbuvir (SOF) against a genotype 1b replicon to determine optimal exposures for each agent that will maximize antiviral activity against susceptible and drug-resistant subpopulations. LDV and SOF were evaluated using a fully factorial experimental design in the BelloCell system. Replicon levels and drug-resistant variants were quantified at various times post-therapy for 14 days and a high-dimensional mathematical model was fit to the data. Mutations associated with SOF resistance were not detected; but LDV-resistant mutants were selected and mutant subpopulations increased as exposure intensity increased. Combination therapy was additive for the total replicon population and the LDV-resistant population, but a threshold concentration of 100 ng/ml of SOF must be attained to suppress LDV-resistant subpopulations. These novel findings hold important implications for not only improving therapeutic outcomes, but also maximizing the clinical utility of LDV and SOF combination regimens.