OBJECTIVES: Recent randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials (SPRINT-2; RESPOND-2) demonstrated that the triple combination of peginterferon (PEG), ribavirin (RBV) and boceprevir (BOC) was more efficacious than standard therapy of PEG-RBV alone in treatment of patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C virus (GI HCV) infection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of triple therapy in both treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients in Hungary.  METHODS: A Markov-model was developed to investigate the long-term clinical benefits and the cost-effectiveness of the triple therapy from the Hunagarian payer perspective. Health states within the model were defined using METAVIR fibrosis scores (F0–F4), decompensated cirrhosis (DC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver trasnsplant (LT), and liver-realted deaths (LD). Efficacy data was estimated using SPRINT-2 and RESPOND-2 studies, and disease progression rates and utilities used in the model were estimated from published studies. Data on probability of liver-transplantation and cost estimates were based on an analysis of the Hungarian Sick Fund database.. Costs and benefits were discounted at 5%.  RESULTS: Triple therapy is projected to increase the life expectancy by 0.98 and 2.39 years and the quality-adjusted life years (QALY) by 0.59 and 1.13 in comparison with treatment with PEG-RBV in treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients, respectively. The corresponding incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were HUF7,747,962 (EUR 26,717) and HUF5,888,240 (EUR20,304) per QALY, respectively. The lifetime incidence of severe liver disease events (DC, HCC, LT, LD) decreased by 41% and 61% in these patient groups in comparison with treatment with PEG-RBV alone.  CONCLUSIONS: The addition of boceprevir to standard therapy for the treatment of patients with G1 chronic HCV infection in Hungary is cost-effective using a commonly used willingness to pay threshold of  HUF8,48 million (3x GDP per capita).