Research & Treatment News
April 29, 2011
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Find out why chronic Hepatitis B treatment is continually challenged by the virus's potential to mutate and become drug resistant.
by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.
Treating chronic Hepatitis B is complex, with a wide variety of medication combinations that must be tailored to each individual receiving treatment. Drug resistance is one of the primary factors complicating any attempt to rid the Hepatitis B virus from an infected person's body. Instead of giving up on any medications that Hepatitis B could develop resistance to, patients must work closely with their physician and follow their prescription to the letter for the best chance of triumphing over this stubborn, chronic viral infection.
Treatment for chronic Hepatitis B typically uses a two-pronged approach - interferon to boost the immune system's response to the virus and an antiviral drug to block the Hepatitis B virus from replicating.
About Drug Resistance
Hepatitis B antiviral drugs are known to develop drug resistance. The Hepatitis B virus is intelligent, and it is frequently able to escape the way antiviral drugs fight it. They do this by slightly changing their genetic material so that the drugs are no longer effective in interfering with the virus's reproductive cycle. A virus that has mutated to become drug resistant can be especially hard to eliminate.
Experts believe there are three main ways of increasing the development of drug resistance:
1. Weak Drug - Resistance is more likely to emerge if the antiviral drugs are not strong enough to prevent the virus from escaping its control.
2. Dosage Mishap - If an antiviral drug is not taken as directed, such as when a person misses or forgets to take a dose, it creates a window of opportunity for the virus to gain strength and escape the drug's control.
3. Timing with Food - An antiviral drug may need to be taken with food to maximize how it is absorbed in the body. If advised to do so by a physician and/or pharmacist, taking an antiviral drug with food makes it more potent, thus making it harder for the virus to escape from the drug's control.
Some Are More Resistant Than Others
When it comes to drug resistance, not all Hepatitis B antivirals are created equally. A list of these drugs and a brief description of their known resistance profile is described below:
• Lamivudine (Epivir-HBV) - Approved for Hepatitis B in 1998, this drug initiates drug resistance in 60 to 70 percent of people taking it after five years.
• Adefovir (Hepsera) - Approved for Hepatitis B in 2002, this drug initiates drug resistance in 29 percent of people taking it after five years.
• Entecavir (Baraclude) - Approved for Hepatitis B in 2005, this drug initiates drug resistance in 1.2 percent of treatment naïve people after six years - and 57 percent of people who are already resistant to lamivudine after six years.
• Telbivudine (Tyzeka) - Approved for Hepatitis B in 2006, this drug initiates drug resistance in 25 percent of people who are HBeAg positive after two years, and in 11 percent of people who are HBeAg negative after two years. A positive HBeAg test indicates that the virus is replicating and the infected person has high viral levels of the Hepatitis B virus. As of April 2011, the FDA approved a change in labeling telbivudine that indicates the upper limits of allowable Hepatitis B viral load due to the potential to develop drug resistance.
• Tenofovir (Viread) - Approved for Hepatitis B in 2008, this drug has a zero percent drug resistance rate after two years; but the five year drug resistance rate is not yet known.
Drug Recommendations
Of the drugs available, experts recommend combining pegylated interferon (Pegasys) and the antivirals tenofovir (Viread) and entecavir (Baraclude) as the best drugs to treat HBeAg-positive or -negative patients who have never been treated before. Besides being some of the most potent antiviral drugs for fighting Hepatitis B, Viread and Baraclude have relatively low rates of drug resistance in those who are treatment naïve. If drug resistance has already occurred to one of the Hepatitis B antivirals, changes in the treatment protocol are necessary - and can become very complex.
Working under the close guidance of a physician is crucial for getting the best possible Hepatitis B treatment. If antiviral resistance has developed, another combination of drugs must be chosen that will work against the drug resistant Hepatitis B virus. Especially due to the risk of drug resistance, doctors are very careful about their Hepatitis B prescriptions - and patients need to be just as careful in following them.
References:
http://www.hbvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/Drug%20Resistance.pdf, What Happens When Drug Resistance Develops?, Christine M. Kukka, Retrieved April 17, 2011, Hepatitis C Support Project, 2011.
http://www.hbvadvocate.org/hepatitis/Basics/HEP%20B%20BASICS%20Drug%20Resistance_10.pdf, HBV Drug Resistance, hbvadvocate.org, 2011.
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_b/news/2011/0404_2010_c.html, Telbivudine Label Adds Resistance Warning, Retrieved April 17, 2011, hivandhepatitis.com, 2011.
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April 22, 2011
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A successful Hepatitis C treatment outcome hinges on medication adherence. Review these seven tips for improving treatment adherence to maximize your chance of beating this virus.
by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.
In response to the growing number of people infected with the virus responsible for the most liver transplants in the U.S., drug companies are literally racing to find more effective treatments for chronic Hepatitis C. This urgency is because the current treatment is only about 50 percent effective for the most common Hepatitis C genotype in the United States. In addition, Hepatitis C's ability to progress to cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure makes it an illness that cannot be ignored. Regardless of the imminent arrival of new and improved medications, improving treatment adherence is likely to help many more with Hepatitis C beat the virus.
Those who undergo the current standard of treatment for Hepatitis C (interferon and ribavirin combination therapy) know that completing the course of medications at their initially prescribed dosage is essential for achieving a successful outcome. However, the rash onslaught of potentially severe side effects makes adhering to Hepatitis C therapy a major challenge.
Defining Treatment Success
There are no guarantees that the Hepatitis C virus can be eradicated from an infected person. Thus, doctors are leery of using the word 'cure' when it comes to eliminating Hepatitis C. The clinical indicator we currently have to describe a successful course of Hepatitis C treatment is sustained viral response (SVR). When Hepatitis C genetic material cannot be detected in the blood following treatment AND six months following the end of treatment, SVR has been attained. Therefore, most studies aiming to define the success of a particular Hepatitis C drug combination use SVR as an endpoint.
Maximizing SVR: Adherence
The primary goal of therapy for Hepatitis C is to maximize sustained viral response rates. While SVR depends on numerous factors, adherence to therapy is one of the few that can be influenced by embarking on a multi-disciplinary approach.
Despite the known importance of treatment adherence in achieving viral eradication, adherence to Hepatitis C medications is suboptimal. As published in a 2010 edition of Value in Health: The Journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, researchers found that only about 60 percent of patients with Hepatitis C in the United States adhered to their prescribed therapy.
Based on several clinical studies on Hepatitis C combination therapy, over 20 percent of patients must decrease dose, temporarily discontinue, or prematurely stop ribavirin and/or interferon because of adverse events. As confirmed by the Value in Health study mentioned above, those with advanced liver disease are less likely to adhere to Hepatitis C therapy than those with early disease, a finding likely related to an increased susceptibility to adverse events.
Adverse Event Reduction
Besides a commitment to take the prescribed medications, minimizing adverse events (side effects) during Hepatitis C treatment is one of the most important aspects of adherence. A multi-disciplinary approach that includes the patient's actions is suggested to improve adherence and give those with Hepatitis C their best chance of achieving SVR. The following suggestions are intended to help keep those taking Hepatitis C medications on this path:
1. Keep Track of Your Dosing Schedule - Examples of this are using a pill box to keep track of and remember ribavirin, and a calendar to make sure you receive timely interferon injections. Accidentally missing doses is an unfortunate mishap that can put people on the losing side of treatment.
2. Side Effect Monitoring and Reporting - Keep a detailed side effect diary and bring it with you to medical appointments. Discuss persistent or bothersome side effects as soon as possible with your physician. Most of the side effects from treatment can be managed effectively if treated before they become severe.
3. Prioritize Nutrition - The food you eat and beverages you drink can aid or combat Hepatitis C treatment. Don't even consider drinking alcohol or eating fatty, sugary or processed foods. Make sure you drink plenty of water and eat a healthy, balanced diet. Proper nutrition can make the difference between achieving SVR and being deemed a non-responder to Hepatitis C treatment.
4. Keep Active - The immune system does not work optimally during inactivity. Besides boosting immunity and making you feel good, light to moderate exercise daily will reduce side effect severity.
5. Acupuncture - Consider seeing a licensed acupuncturist while on combination therapy to improve your chances of SVR. In addition to helping relieve some of the treatment's side effects, acupuncture is known to strengthen the immune response - a function that supports Hepatitis C treatment.
6. Supplement with Milk Thistle - Although your physician should always be consulted prior to taking any supplements while on Hepatitis C treatment, research by the National Institutes of Health indicates that milk thistle could improve adherence to combination therapy. As published in a 2008 edition of Hepatology, researchers found those taking milk thistle extract during Hepatitis C therapy had significantly less fatigue, nausea, liver pain, anorexia, muscle and joint pain, and better general health than participants who did not take milk thistle.
7. Stay Networked - Make sure to enlist the help of family, friends and/or a support group during the entire course of therapy. Feeling isolated during Hepatitis C treatment does not bode well for completing treatment, while having a support network has been shown to help people overcome the obstacles that typically interfere with adherence.
By improving adherence to Hepatitis C treatment, the chances of achieving a sustained viral response - or maybe even a cure - will correspondingly increase. Incorporation of the seven tips described above into combination therapy regimens will dwarf the current SVR expectation of 50 percent, as many more are able to successfully eliminate chronic Hepatitis C from their body.
References:
http://www.clinicaloptions.com/Hepatitis/Resources/News%20and%20Comment/Expert%20Viewpoints/August%202010.aspx, Importance of Adherence to HCV Regimens, Melissa Palmer, MD, Retrieved October 1, 2010, Clinical Care Options, LLC, August 2010.
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/Adherence_10.pdf, HCV Treatment: Adherence to HCV Therapy, Alan Franciscus, Retrieved October 1, 2010, Hepatitis C Support Project, 2010.
http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2007/05/a_cure_for_hepa.html, A Cure for Hepatitis C?, Nicole Cutler, L.Ac., Natural Wellness, 2010.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed, Treatment patterns and adherence among patients with chronic hepatitis C virus in a US managed care population, Mitra D, et al, Retrieved October 3, 2010, Value in Health, June-July 2010.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18157835, Herbal product use by persons enrolled in the hepatitis C Antiviral Long-Term Treatment Against Cirrhosis (HALT-C) Trial, Seeff LB, et al, Retrieved October 3, 2010, Hepatology, February 2008.
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April 20, 2011
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Available to physicians, other healthcare providers and drug companies for research purposes, Quest Diagnostics now offers a test to identify IL28B - the genetic variant that helps predict responsiveness to interferon-based therapy for Hepatitis C.
Quest Diagnostics Launches Hepatitis C Virus Therapy Test Based on IL28B Gene Variants
AccuType® IL28B test now available to physicians and for clinical trials research
MADISON, N.J., April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, today announced the availability of its AccuType® IL28B test for aiding in the prediction of patient response to peginterferon alpha-based therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Quest Diagnostics is now offering the test to physicians and other healthcare providers in the U.S. and to pharmaceutical companies for use in clinical trials research.
The test was developed through a global non-exclusive license agreement under which Schering Corporation, a Merck affiliate, licensed certain patent rights claiming Interleukin (IL) 28B genetic markers to Quest Diagnostics. These genetic markers have been shown to provide an indicator of potential response to peginterferon alpha-based therapy for HCV. Additional terms were not disclosed.
"Our AccuType IL28B test will give physicians greater insights for treating individual patients infected with the most common form of HCV using standard antiviral therapies," said Rick L. Pesano, M.D., Ph.D., medical director, infectious diseases, Quest Diagnostics. "AccuType IL28B testing will also help physicians consider alternative therapies, which in the future may include HCV protease inhibitors."
Continue reading this entire article:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quest-diagnostics-launches-hepatitis-c-virus-therapy-test-based-on-il28b-gene-variants-120056609.html
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Possessing attributes that could benefit someone with chronic Hepatitis C, discover why coconut oil consumption is not necessarily an ideal dietary staple.
by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.
Many with Hepatitis C know that vegetables and alcohol are the antithesis of one another; the former being beneficial to the liver while the latter is harmful. However, there are many more substances that can impact liver health. When we think of oils, helping the liver protect against toxins doesn't usually come to mind. Despite its reputation for neutralizing viruses, boosting energy and supporting the liver, there may be a reason the oil derived from coconuts rarely receives acknowledgment by the Hepatitis C community.
Having chronic Hepatitis C means that a continual battle is being waged within the liver; the virus is attempting to inflame and damage the liver while the body defends against it. During this battle, lifestyle choices can tip liver health balance one way or the other. Since everything we eat or drink must be processed by the liver, dietary selections can play a major role in staying well with Hepatitis C.
Dietary fads claiming health benefits cycle every few years, and coconut oil has been one of the products that repeatedly grabs attention. With conflicting information about whether or not to include coconut oil in a liver health program, there is justifiable confusion surrounding this tropical medium.
Lauric Acid
Advocates claim that lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid found mainly in coconut oil, is the substance predominantly responsible for coconut oil's health benefits. Pure coconut oil contains about 50 percent lauric acid, and is the most abundant natural source of lauric acid available.
Lauric acid is the same disease-fighting medium chain fatty acid found in breast milk that protects infants from viral and bacterial infections. According to Dr. Mary Enig, author of "Know Your Fats: The Complete Primer for Understanding the Nutrition of Fats, Oils, and Cholesterol," lauric acid is converted by the body into a substance known as monolaurin, which possesses antiviral, antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Monolaurin destroys certain viruses, fungi and bacteria by dissolving the cell membrane, neutralizing lipid-coated viruses such as herpes simplex virus-1, influenza, the measles, Hepatitis C and organisms associated with infections in HIV patients.
Metabolism Boost
Sometimes advised for weight loss or chronic fatigue syndrome, coconut oil is believed to improve metabolism. This is because coconut oil primarily consists of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). MCFAs are easily digested and converted into energy, thus causing an increase in metabolism. As such, coconut oil may help reduce the fatigue typical of chronic Hepatitis C.
Long-chain fatty acids, like those in polyunsaturated oils, are more difficult for the body to break down and use for energy. Instead, long-chain fatty acids are usually stored as fat in the body. Of additional benefit to those with a fatty liver, removing long-chain fatty acids from the diet and replacing them with MCFAs may also lead to reduced fat deposition.
Liver Protection
Although the mechanism is not yet understood, coconut oil may protect the liver from injury. Published in a 2011 publication of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Malaysian researchers evaluated the ability of virgin coconut oil to prevent liver damage from a known liver toxin. They found that rats given virgin coconut oil prior to paracetamol (a known liver toxin) significantly reduced liver damage.
Saturated Fat
There is a growing body of evidence supporting the notion that coconut oil is a wise choice for those with chronic Hepatitis C - but not everyone is convinced. The well-known and respected health authority figure, Dr. Andrew Weil, does not recommend coconut oil consumption. He suggests coconut oil should play a very limited role, if any, in the diet. While he acknowledges coconut oil's ability to boost metabolism and neutralize viruses, Weil states that there is insufficient evidence to advise its use.
Determining which lifestyle factors could tip the scales toward healthfully living with Hepatitis C is not always a simple task. Based on the facts, switching over to coconut oil could help the liver defend against Hepatitis C. However, coconut oil may also foster a rise in cholesterol - a situation that could aggravate the liver's well-being. Until more definitive research is available, the decision to consume coconut oil is personal - as there is not yet sound advice for including or excluding coconut oil from a Hepatitis C diet.
References:
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA316479, Is Coconut Oil Good for You?, Andrew Weil, MD, Retrieved March 19, 2011, Weil Lifestyle, LLC, 2011.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/134743-virgin-coconut-oil-benefits-health/, Virgin Coconut Oil Benefits for Health, Karen Eisenbraun, Retrieved March 16, 2011, Demand Media, Inc., 2011.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026808_coconut_oil_metabolism_fatty_acids.html, Coconut Oil Can Promote Weight Loss by Increasing Metabolism Naturally, Elizabeth Walling, Retrieved March 19, 2011, Natural News Network, 2011.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026819_lauric_acid_coconut_oil_infections.html, Learn About the Many Benefits of Lauric Acid in Coconut Oil, Elizabeth Walling, Retrieved March 16, 2011, Natural News Network, 2011.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21318140, Hepatoprotective activity of dried- and fermented-processed virgin coconut oil, Zakaria ZA, et al, Retrieved March 16, 2011, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, January 2011.
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April 18, 2011
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Compared to women in their childbearing years, menopausal women have a disadvantage in the battle against Hepatitis C. However, those who begin menopause prematurely have an even greater hurdle to overcome.
by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.
Women who cease menstruating earlier than usual have several more health risks than women who enter menopause in their 50s. Unfortunately for women with chronic Hepatitis C who have undergone early menopause, not being able to achieve a sustained virologic response (SVR) is among those health risks.
Experts consider menopause to be premature when it occurs in women under age 40, with 51 being the average age of natural menopause for American women. While the symptoms of early menopause are essentially the same as those that occur during normal menopause, they may be more severe. These symptoms may include:
• irregular or missed menstrual periods
• periods that are heavier or lighter than usual
• hot flashes
• irritability/depression
• mood swings
• bloating
• sore breasts
• decreased sex drive
• vaginal dryness
• bladder irritability and incontinence
• dry skin, eyes or mouth
• insomnia
Women in menopause - whether they arrive there at the usual age or prematurely, experience lowered estrogen levels as their ovaries stop the majority of this hormone's production. This decrease in estrogen levels is the cause of an increased risk of various health problems associated with menopause, such as osteoporosis, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, periodontal disease and cataracts.
Recently emerging evidence indicates that an increased risk of liver damage and reduced likelihood of achieving SVR after Hepatitis C treatment are also among the menopause risks. As the premiere indicator that antiviral therapy has eliminated Hepatitis C from a person's body, SVR is a critical benchmark defining successful treatment of this challenging viral infection of the liver.
Unfortunately, these health risks appear to be greater for women who enter menopause early. Experts surmise that this is because, compared with women who go through natural menopause, women undergoing premature menopause spend a greater portion of their lives without the protective benefits of their own estrogen.
Hepatitis C infection progresses slower and liver damage tends to be less severe in women than in men:
1. Spontaneous Hep C Clearance - One of the edges women have over men is that they are more likely to completely clear Hepatitis C from their bodies without ever developing chronic liver disease. In general, about 80 percent of people who are infected with Hepatitis C develop a chronic infection - but that rate is lower for women. A German study of 1,018 young women infected with Hepatitis C in 1978-1979 through contaminated immunoglobulin transfusions found that, after 20 years, about 45 percent had cleared the virus on their own. Researchers suspect that estrogen plays a role in this indisputable female advantage.
2. Liver Disease Progression - As a group, women tend to experience less aggressive liver disease progression than men. Women with chronic Hepatitis C tend not to develop liver cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure as rapidly as men. Among those with Hepatitis C who develop serious liver disease, the process usually takes decades. In the German study described above, only four of the 1,018 women had developed cirrhosis after 20 years. Again, this is likely because estrogen seems to protect the liver from damage.
Because chronic Hepatitis C and liver fibrosis progress more rapidly in men and menopausal women than in women of reproductive age, researchers from Italy investigated the associations among menopause, SVR and liver damage in patients with chronic Hepatitis C. As published in the March 2011 edition of Gastroenterology, Erica Villa and colleagues performed a prospective study of 1,000 consecutive, treatment-naïve patients 18 years of age and older with compensated liver disease from chronic Hepatitis C. They found that SVR was achieved by:
• 67.5 percent of women of reproductive age
• 51.1 percent by men
• 46 percent by post-menopausal women
Further analysis demonstrated that early menopause was the only independent factor that predicted lack of an SVR among women with genotype 1 Hepatitis C virus infection - the most common type in the US. As such, the researchers concluded that among women with chronic Hepatitis C, early menopause was associated with a low likelihood of SVR, probably because of inflammatory factors that change at menopause.
This new information provides women who have entered early menopause with yet another health challenge to overcome. However, the connection between estrogen levels, liver disease progression and achieving a successful outcome from antiviral treatment could lead to a greater understanding of the Hepatitis C virus. Eventually, such insight has the potential to produce an improvement in how we defend against Hepatitis C - from estrogen-inspired vaccine development to therapeutic intervention.
References:
http://www.ehow.com/about_5558368_liver-early-menopause.html, The Liver & Early Menopause, Mike Parker, Retrieved April 1, 2011, Demand Media, Inc., 2011.
http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085%2810%2901834-2/abstract, Early Menopause Is Associated With Lack of Response to Antiviral Therapy in Women With Chronic Hepatitis C, Erica Villa, et al, Retrieved March 31, 2011, Gastroenterology, March 2011.
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/hepC/wmnlong.html, Women and HCV, Liz Highleyman, Retrieved April 1, 2011, Hepatitis C Support Project, 2011.
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2011/0322_2011_a.html, Early Menopause Linked to Poor Hepatitis C Treatment Response, Liz Highleyman, Retrieved March 31, 2011, hivandhepatitis.com, 2011.
http://www.webmd.com/menopause/guide/premature-menopause, Premature Menopause, Retrieved April 1, 2011, WebMD, LLC, 2011.
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April 13, 2011
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Preliminary phase I data for a therapeutic T-cell Hepatitis C vaccine posts hopeful results.
First Vaccine for Viral Hepatitis C Could Become a Reality
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Early data from phase I trials of an HCV vaccine presented at the International Liver Congress(TM) show encouraging results, with high immunogenicity and good safety profile.
BERLIN, GERMANY -- In the first study¹, a therapeutic T-cell vaccine, based on novel adenoviral vectors was used on a small population of treatment naive patients with chronic genotype 1 HCV infection. Intra-muscular vaccination was administered 2 or 14 weeks into a 48-week course of treatment with Peg-IFNa2a/ribavirin. 50% of vaccinated patients had CD4+ and CD8+ HCV specific T-cell responses as detected by ELISpot at 2-8 weeks post boost, showing a strong immunogenicity for the vaccine. Local and systemic adverse events to vaccination were mild, with no evidence of liver immunopathology (measured by liver transaminase levels).
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http://www.mdnews.com/news/2011_04/first-vaccine-for-viral-hepatitis-c-could-become-a-reality
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April 12, 2011
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An observational analysis has found that those on antidepressant medications during Hepatitis C treatment are more likely to complete interferon-based therapy.
New Analysis Finds Antidepressants Boost Patient Adherence to Hepatitis C Treatment
Patients taking medications for depression more likely to stick with Interferon treatment
BALTIMORE, April 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Adherence to interferon, an important medication used to treat Hepatitis C, is critical to successfully clearing the virus that causes the disease. A new observational analysis by Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) finds that when Hepatitis C patients are also being treated for depression -- a frequent side effect of interferon use -- they are more likely to remain on their interferon therapy. The analysis is being presented today at the International Conference on Viral Hepatitis 2011.
According to the study, approximately 40 percent of Hepatitis C patients on interferon and ribavirin -- an antiviral medication used in combination with interferon -- were not adherent to their medication regimen. This puts patients at risk for progression of their disease due to their inability to eliminate the virus. The research found that the patients also using an antidepressant had the highest rates of adherence to their Hepatitis C treatment.
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http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-analysis-finds-antidepressants-boost-patient-adherence-to-hepatitis-c-treatment-119610829.html
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Upon further study of telaprevir, researchers have determined that it may dramatically shorten the time required for successful Hepatitis C therapy.
Telaprevir Increases Second-Phase Hepatitis C Decline
Analysis of the kinetics of telaprevir treatment for hepatitis C virus shows a rapid second-phase viral decline, which may allow for shorter duration of treatment, according to a study published online March 7 in Hepatology.
FRIDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Analysis of the kinetics of telaprevir treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) shows a rapid second-phase viral decline, which may allow for shorter duration of treatment, according to a study published online March 7 in Hepatology.
Jeremie Guedj, Ph.D., and Alan S. Perelson, Ph.D., from the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, examined second-phase HCV viral decline during treatment with telaprevir. Two aspects of telaprevir treatment were investigated: the effect of varying regimens of telaprevir monotherapy in 28 participants, and the comparison of telaprevir monotherapy in eight patients with telaprevir plus interferon therapy in eight patients. Using a new viral kinetic model, and assuming that drug resistance can be avoided, the treatment time needed to eliminate all virus and infected cells was estimated.
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http://www.doctorslounge.com/index.php/news/pb/19244
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April 7, 2011
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Without pegylated interferon, experimental drugs by Bristol-Myers Squibb appear to be on the path of improving Hepatitis C treatment - by making it easier to endure and increasing the success rate.
Bristol-Myers Interferon-Free Combo Cured Hepatitis Patients
By Naomi Kresge - Apr 2, 2011
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY)'s cocktail of two experimental drugs cured four hepatitis C patients in the first success for a therapy that excludes often-toxic existing drugs.
The combination had a higher rate of success when paired with the current standard treatment in the 21-person trial, curing nine of 10 patients, researchers said today at the Berlin meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver. The study points to the next generation of drugs for the evasive virus, said Mark Thursz, a professor of hepatology at Imperial College London and vice-secretary of EASL.
Continue reading this entire article:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-02/bristol-myers-interferon-free-combo-cured-hepatitis-c-patients.html
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Whether or not a person has metabolic syndrome, new research shows that adding fluvastatin to standard Hepatitis C combination therapy improves response rates.
FLUVASTATIN ENHANCES CHRONIC HEPATITIS C TREATMENT RESPONSE IN COMBINATION WITH PEGYLATED INTERFERON-ALPHA AND RIBAVIRIN
Well-known statin could be recycled as HCV therapy supplement
Berlin, Germany, Thursday 31 March 2011: /PRNewswire/ -- New data presented today at the International Liver CongressTM confirm the antiviral activity of fluvastatin - commonly used as a cholesterol-lowering treatment - in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV).1
Patients had improved early and sustained virological response (EVR and SVR) when treated with the current standard of care - pegylated Interferon-alpha and ribavirin (PegIFNα/RBV) - and fluvastatin. The results show patients receiving fluvastatin and PegIFNα/RBV achieve higher rates of EVR and SVR - 75.96% and 63.46% - to those receiving placebo and PegIFNα/RBV - 61.9% and 49.52% respectively.
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http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/easl/48894/
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