Sofosbuvir

The Basics

What is Sofosbuvir?

Used in combination to treat chronic hepatitis C infection.

Brand names for Sofosbuvir

Vosevi

How Sofosbuvir is classified

Antiviral Agents, Nucleotides

Sofosbuvir During Pregnancy

Sofosbuvir pregnancy category

Category Not AssignedNote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Sofosbuvir while pregnant

No adequate human data are available to establish whether or not VOSEVI poses a risk to pregnancy outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, no evidence of adverse developmental outcomes was observed with the components of VOSEVI (sofosbuvir, velpatasvir, or voxilaprevir) at exposures greater than those in humans at the recommended human dose (RHD) . During organogenesis in the mouse, rat, and rabbit, systemic exposures (AUC) of velpatasvir were approximately 23 (mice), 4 (rats), and 0.5 (rabbits) times the exposure in humans at the RHD, while exposures of voxilaprevir were approximately 141 (rats) and 4 (rabbits) times the exposure in humans at the RHD. Exposures of the predominant circulating metabolite of sofosbuvir (GS331007) were approximately 6 (rats) and 16 (rabbits) times the exposure in humans at the RHD. In rat pre/postnatal development studies, maternal systemic exposures (AUC) for each component of VOSEVI were approximately 7 (sofosbuvir metabolite GS-331007), 3 (velpatasvir), and 238 (voxilaprevir) times the exposure in humans at the RHD. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2–4% and 15–20%, respectively. Data Sofosbuvir Sofosbuvir was administered orally to pregnant rats (up to 500 mg/kg/day) and rabbits (up to 300 mg/kg/day) on gestation days 6 to 18 and 6 to 19, respectively, and also to rats (oral doses up to 500 mg/kg/day) from gestation day 6 to lactation/postpartum day 20. No significant effects on embryo-fetal (rats and rabbits) or pre/postnatal (rats) development were observed at the highest doses tested. The systemic exposures (AUC) of the predominant circulating metabolite of sofosbuvir (GS-331007) during gestation were approximately 6 (rats) and 16 (rabbits) times the exposure in humans at the RHD. Velpatasvir Velpatasvir was administered orally to pregnant mice (up to 1000 mg/kg/day), rats (up to 200 mg/kg/day) and rabbits (up to 300 mg/kg/day) from gestation days 6 to 15, 6 to 17, and 7 to 20, respectively, and also to rats (oral doses up to 200 mg/kg) on gestation day 6 to lactation/post-partum day 20. No significant effects on embryo-fetal (mice, rats, and rabbits) or pre/postnatal (rats) development were observed at the highest doses tested. The systemic exposures (AUC) of velpatasvir during gestation were approximately 23 (mice), 4 (rats), and 0.5 (rabbits) times the exposure in humans at the RHD. Voxilaprevir Voxilaprevir was administered orally to pregnant rats (up to 100 mg/kg/day) and rabbits (up to 600 mg/kg/day) from gestation days 6 to 17, and 7 to 19, respectively, and also to rats (oral doses up to 100 mg/kg) on gestation day 6 to lactation/post-partum day 20. No significant effects on embryo-fetal (rats and rabbits) or pre/postnatal (rats) development were observed at the highest doses tested. The systemic exposures (AUC) of voxilaprevir during gestation were approximately 141 (rats), and 4 (rabbits) times the exposure in humans at the RHD.

Taking Sofosbuvir While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Sofosbuvir?

Sofosbuvir has not been studied in nursing mothers being treated for hepatitis C infection. If sofosbuvir alone or in combination with ledipasvir (Harvoni) is required by the mother, it is not a reason to discontinue breastfeeding.[1] Some sources recommend against breastfeeding when sofosbuvir is used with ribavirin. Hepatitis C is not transmitted through breastmilk[2][3] and breastmilk has been shown to inactivate hepatitis C virus (HCV).[4][5] However, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that mothers with HCV infection should consider abstaining from breastfeeding if their nipples are cracked or bleeding. It is not clear if this warning would apply to mothers who are being treated for hepatitis C. Infants born to mothers with HCV infection should be tested for HCV infection; because maternal antibody is present for the first 18 months of life and before the infant mounts an immunologic response, nucleic acid testing is recommended.[2][3]

Maternal / infant drug levels

Sofosbuvir has not been studied in nursing mothers being treated for hepatitis C infection. If sofosbuvir alone or in combination with ledipasvir (Harvoni) is required by the mother, it is not a reason to discontinue breastfeeding.[1] Some sources recommend against breastfeeding when sofosbuvir is used with ribavirin. Hepatitis C is not transmitted through breastmilk[2][3] and breastmilk has been shown to inactivate hepatitis C virus (HCV).[4][5] However, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that mothers with HCV infection should consider abstaining from breastfeeding if their nipples are cracked or bleeding. It is not clear if this warning would apply to mothers who are being treated for hepatitis C. Infants born to mothers with HCV infection should be tested for HCV infection; because maternal antibody is present for the first 18 months of life and before the infant mounts an immunologic response, nucleic acid testing is recommended.[2][3]

Possible effects of Sofosbuvir on milk supply

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Possible alternatives to Sofosbuvir

(Hepatitis C) Interferon Alfa, Interferon Alfacon-1, Peginterferon Alfa.