This guidance should be read in conjunction with the following NICE guidance: NICE technology appraisal guidance 75 (TA75) 'Interferon alfa (pegylated and non-pegylated) and ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C' (which covers moderate to severe hepatitis C) NICE technology apprai ...

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This guidance should be read in conjunction with the following NICE guidance:

• NICE technology appraisal guidance 75 (TA75) 'Interferon alfa (pegylated and non-pegylated) and ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C' (which covers moderate to severe hepatitis C)
• NICE technology appraisal guidance 106 (TA106) 'Peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for the treatment of mild chronic hepatitis C'.

This appraisal addresses extensions to the marketing authorisations for peginterferon alfa-2a and peginterferon alfa-2b. This guidance updates and replaces:

• section 1.2, bullet 3 only, of TA75
• section 1.4 of TA75 for adults who are eligible for shortened courses of combination therapy (as described in section 1.2 of the current guidance)
• section 1.7, bullet 1 only, of TA75
• sections 1.4 and 1.5 of TA106.

All other recommendations in TA75 and TA106 still stand.

NICE recommends peginterferon alfa (2a or 2b) plus ribavirin as a possible treatment for people with chronic hepatitis C:

• who have been treated previously with peginterferon alfa (2a or 2b) plus ribavirin, or with peginterferon alfa monotherapy, but their hepatitis C didn't improve, or improved but then got worse again or
• who also have an HIV infection.

NICE also recommends short courses of treatment with peginterferon alfa (2a or 2b) plus ribavirin for people whose hepatitis C has greatly improved within 4 weeks of starting treatment and who are suitable for short treatment courses . Whether a person is suitable for a short treatment course will depend on a number of factors.

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