Among 328 pregnancies with reported glecaprevir/pibrentasvir exposure in AbbVie’s global pharmacovigilance database between July 2017 and March 2026, researchers documented outcomes for 87 cases, HCPLive reported.
The analysis, presented on November 5, 2026, at The Liver Meeting 2026 in Denver, Colorado, showed that 51.7% of those 87 pregnancies resulted in live births. Meanwhile, 19.5% ended in elective abortions, and 28.7% resulted in spontaneous abortions.
Investigators said that rates of spontaneous abortion and preterm birth were lower than those typically reported among pregnant individuals with hepatitis C virus who were not exposed to direct-acting antivirals. Of the live births recorded, three were preterm and two involved congenital anomalies with no recurring pattern.
Treatment was discontinued in 146 of 223 cases where patient status was available. Investigators suggest this high cessation rate may reflect a lack of shared decision-making between patients and clinicians regarding antiviral therapy during pregnancy.
Most reported exposures lacked complete outcome data, which can skew the findings. Adverse outcomes are naturally more likely to be submitted to safety databases than routine successful pregnancies.
“Most exposures lacked outcome data and adverse outcomes are more likely to be reported, which may skew results,” said Dr. T. T. Kushner, pointing to the limitations inherent in pharmacovigilance tracking.
Kushner has relevant disclosures with Gilead, GSK, Madrigal, Ipsen, Mirum, and Eiger Biopharmaceuticals. Prospective data remain necessary to clarify safety profiles and guide clinical management across different trimesters.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, routine hepatitis C screening is advised for all adults during each pregnancy to identify infections early and guide appropriate care timelines.
Worth a look