News 2007

Dec 2007

Eltrombopag Raises Platelet Counts, Enabling Initiation of Interferon-based Therapy for Hepatitis C

HCV Polymerase Inhibitor R7128 Demonstrates Antiviral Activity in Prior Non-responders

Experimental HCV Polymerase Inhibitor GS 9190 Shows Promising Antiviral Activity but Possible Cardiac Side Effects in Phase 1 Study

Acute Hepatitis C Infection and Spontaneous Viral Clearance in Adults and Children

Good Response to Hepatitis C Treatment in Patients with a History of Psychiatric Conditions

Non-invasive FibroTest and FibroScan Predict Liver Cirrhosis Better than Earlier Stages of Fibrosis in Hepatitis C Patients

Polymerase Inhibitor NM107 and Protease Inhibitor Boceprevir Show Enhanced Anti-HCV Activity in Combination

Experimental Polymerase Inhibitor HCV-796 is Safe and Effective in Combination with PegIntron or Pegasys

Study shows Hep C virus can be passed along by sharing crack pipe
 

Novel HCV Polymerase Inhibitor VCH-759 Monotherapy Demonstrates Promising Antiviral Activity -

Cancer Surveillance Futile in Advanced Cirrhosis

The Big 3 at AASLD: Drugs in Development

Hepatitis Day on Dec 4

HealthWise: Virology 101 (First of a Four-Part Series)

HealthWise: Protection from Viruses: The Mighty Immune System (Second in a four part series)

HealthWise: A Good Offense is the Best Defense (Third in a four part series)

HealthWise: Supporting your Immune System
(Final in a four part series

Evel Knievel Dies After Years of Mesmerizing Stunts

Ministry accepts blame for silence over hepatitis infection

Multiple dose safety and pharmacokinetic study of bavituximab in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection

Eltrombopag for Thrombocytopenia in Patients with Cirrhosis Associated with Hepatitis C -

 New drug helps cure liver disease: study

Epidemiology and Treatment Response of Genotype 5 HCV; Researchers Find New Seventh Genotype

Prophylaxis with Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a (Pegasys) plus Ribavirin vs No Prophylaxis after Liver Transplantation

Invention Offers Sick Livers a Well-Needed Rest

Is Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a (Pegasys) plus Ribavirin Superior to High-dose Consensus Interferon (Infergen) plus Ribavirin?
 

Depression Due to Treatment with Pegylated Interferon plus Ribavirin May Be Under-diagnosed by Clinicians

New Controlled-release Interferon Alfa (Locteron) Demonstrates Promising Activity against HCV

How Effective Is Pegylated Interferon plus Ribavirin for HCV Genotype 1 Patients Over Age 50?

Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a (Pegasys) plus Ribavirin for Patients with HBV and HCV Coinfection

Medivir: Initiation of a Phase IIa Clinical Trial with Investigational Hepatitis C Protease Inhibitor TMC435350 -

Prolonged Interferon-based Therapy

Merimepodib for Prior Nonresponders

Treating Patients with Cirrhosis

HCV Sexual Transmission

Nexavar First FDA-Approved Drug Therapy for Liver Cancer

Change in Liver Transplant Criteria Reduced Waiting List Deaths

Evolving Issues in Viral Hepatitis

Nov

58th Annual AASLD Meeting

AASLD: Higher Caffeine Consumption is associated with Milder Fibrosis in patients with Chronic Liver Diseases

Improved cognitive function as a consequence of hepatitis C virus treatment -

MAINTENANCE THERAPY FOUND INEFFECTIVE HALT-C STUDY

Induction with High-dose Pegylated Interferon alfa-2a (Pegasys) Is More Effective than Standard Dosing for Achieving Rapid and Early Virological Response: The CHARIOT Study

Assessment of HCV RNA at Week 4 and Week 12 Optimizes Prediction of Treatment Outcomes in HCV Patients Treated with Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2b (PegIntron) plus Ribavirin

Viral Kinetics Can Quickly Predict Sustained Virological Response in Hepatitis C Patients with Normal ALT Treated with PegIntron plus Ribavirin

European Drug Regulators Approve PegIntron plus Rebetol for Retreating HCV Patients Who Failed Prior Therapy

HALT-C Trial Shows Minimal Long-term Benefit of Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a (Pegasys) Maintenance Therapy in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Long-term, Low-Dose Treatment with Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2b (PegIntron) Monotherapy Leads to a Reduction in Fibrosis and Inflammatory Scores in Prior Non-responders

What is the best non invasive method for early prediction of cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C? Prospective comparison between Fibroscan and serum markers (Lok index, APRI, AST/ALT ratio, platelet count and Fibrotest) -

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: a community-based prospective study on 19,565 residents in Taiwan

Rapid Virological Response at Week 4 Is the Best Predictor of Treatment Outcome in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Consensus Interferon Produces Sustained Response in Some Non-responders and Relapsers to Prior Interferon-based Therapy

Interim Data Show Nitazoxanide (Alinia) Improves Anti-HCV Activity When Added to Pegylated Interferon plus Ribavirin

In vitro activity and preclinical pharmacokinetics of the HCV protease inhibitor TMC435350 -

Pioglitazone Improved Metabolics & Liver Injury in Non-diabetics with NASH

Results of a Phase I Placebo-Controlled Trial in Healthy Volunteers to Examine the Safety, Tolerability and PK of the HCV Protease Inhibitor TMC435350 after Single and Repeated Dosing in healthy volunteers -

What is the impact of higher sensitivity assay on response-guided therapy in hepatitis C virus (HCV)? Comparative analysis between COBAS TaqMan™ and COBAS Amplicor™ tests from two large, randomized, international trials of PEGASYS plus COPEGUS

The DIRECT Trial (Daily-Dose Consensus Interferon and Ribavirin: Efficacy of Combined Therapy): treatment of non-responders to previous pegylated interferon plus ribavirin: sustained virologic response data

Response-guided therapy in a prospective trial of peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD)/ribavirin treatment in patients with HCV genotype 1 or 4 -

Insulin Resistance Predicts HCV Progression in Genotype 1

HCV patients with genotype 2 or 3 who do not achieve a rapid virologic response (RVR) with peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) (PEGASYS) and ribavirin (COPEGUS) are not easy to treat: an analysis of non-RVR patients from the ACCELERATE study

: High rates of sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients >50 years infected with HCV genotype 1 with positive prognostic factors treated with peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) (PEGASYS®) and ribavirin (COPEGUS®)

Differentiation of early virologic response (EVR) into RVR, complete EVR (cEVR) and partial EVR (pEVR) allows for a more precise prediction of SVR in HCV genotype 1 patients treated with peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) (PEGASYS) and ribavirin (COPEGUS)

Outcomes in HIV-HCV co-infected genotype 1 patients treated with peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) plus ribavirin 1000 or 1200 mg/day: predictions based on generalized additive models

High chance of cure in HCV genotype 1 patients with a low viral load achieving an RVR treated for 24 weeks with pegylated interferon alfa-2a (PEGASYS) plus ribavirin (COPEGUS): prospective, randomized, controlled study comparing 24 & 48 weeks of treatment -

Tibotec HCV Protease Inhibitor -

Hepatitis C treatment reduces the virus but serious liver problems may progress

Here's how hepatitis C virus evades the body's cell defences

Antiviral activity of the non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitor, VCH-759, in chronic Hepatitis C patients:Results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo -controlled, ascending multiple dose study -

Vital Therapies Announces Presentation of ELAD "Artificial Liver" Data at American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases 2007 Annual Meeting

Antiviral, pharmacokinetic and safety data for GS-9190, a non-nucleoside HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitor, in a phase-1 trial in HCV genotype 1 infected patients

Pegylated interferon alfa-2a (40KD) plus ribavirin (RBV) in prior non-responders to pegylated interferon alfa-2b (12KD)/RBV: final efficacy and safety outcomes of the REPEAT study

Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a (Pegasys) plus Ribavirin in Non-responders to Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2b (PegIntron) plus Ribavirin: Final Results of the REPEAT Trial

Experimental Roche Polymerase Inhibitor R1626 Shows Robust Synergistic Effect in Combination with Pegylated Interferon with or without Ribavirin

Final Results of the Canadian Pegylated Interferon alfa-2b (PegIntron) Prospective Optimal Weight-based Dosing Response (POWeR) Study -

Assessment of Viral Kinetics Helps Predict Response to Treatment with Pegylated Interferon Alfa plus Ribavirin in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Highly Sensitive HCV RNA Tests Required to Evaluate Treatment Response and Relapse Rates and to Create Individualized Treatment Strategies for Hepatitis C Patients

Early Treatment Is Indicated for Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Regardless of Body Weight

Future Studies Should Avoid Combining Genotype 2 and Genotype 3 Patients Due to Lower Response Rate in the Genotype 3 Population

Ultra Rapid Virological Response at Week 2 Predicts Sustained Response in HCV Genotype 3 Patients with High Viral Load: The Get-C Study

Rapid and early virological response rates are increased with 12 week 360 μg/wk peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) and standard ribavirin in HCV genotype 1 treatment naive patients: efficacy and safety analysis of the induction phase of the CHARIOT study -

Evaluation of Viral Variants During a Phase 2 Study (PROVE2) of Telaprevir with Peg-interferon alfa-2a and Ribavirin in Treatment-naïve HCV Genotype 1-Infected Patients

Phase 2a study to evaluate the safety and tolerability and anti-viral of 4 doses of a novel, controlled-release interferon-alfa 2b (Locteron) given every 2 weeks for 12 weeks in treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis C (genotype 1)

Antiviral Activity, Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of R7128, a Novel Nucleoside HCV RNA Polymerase Inhibitor, Following Multiple, Ascending, Oral Doses in Patients with HCV Genotype 1 Infection Who have Failed Prior Interferon Therapy

GSK launches new Phase III trials of Revolade, new drug that boosts platelet counts in patients with HCV

Interim analysis: results from a phase 2 study of telaprevir with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin in treatment-naive subjects with hepatitis C: Prove 1 -

A high barrier to resistance may contribute to the robust antiviral effect demonstrated by R1626 in HCV genotype 1-infected treatment-naive patients -

Rapid and early virological response rates are increased with 12 week 360 μg/wk peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) and standard ribavirin in HCV genotype 1 treatment naive patients: efficacy and safety analysis of the induction phase of the CHARIOT study

Danazol Increases Platelet Counts in Thrombocytopenia Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C or Cirrhosis -

Hepatitis C Associated Systemic Cryoglobulinemia: Successful Treatment With Plasma Exchange

Long-Term, Low-Dose Treatment With Pegylated Interferon alfa-2b Leads to a Significant Reduction in Fibrosis and Inflammatory Scores in Chronic Hepatitis C Nonresponder Patients With Fibrosis or Cirrhosis

Gilead hepatitis C drug may have heart issue-study

2- New HCV Drugs at AASLD -

First Studies Demonstrating Greater than 60% Sustained Viral Response Rates with Half the Standard Treatment Duration in Genotype 1 Chronic Hepatitis C Patients (Vertex press release)

Phase II Study Shows that Nitazoxanide Significantly Improves Response to Standard of Care in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Vertex feeling growing pains Firm scrambles for workers, space as drug shows promise -

Pharmasset Presents R7128 14-Day Monotherapy Study Results for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C -

Study Finds Strong Association Between Hepatitis C and Tattooing; HCV Testing Recommended for All People with Tattoo

Phase 1b Study Shows Toll-like Receptor 9 Agonist CPG 10101 Decreases HCV RNA in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Significant New Data on Roche's PEGASYS(R) and Hepatitis C Pipeline Compounds to be Featured at 58th Annual AASLD Meeting

FROM:

HCV Advocate’s AASLD Conference coverage

Other Nov News

Study Finds Strong Association Between Hepatitis C and Tattooing; HCV Testing Recommended for All People with Tattoo

Positive results for GlobeImmune's hepatitis C drug in Phase I

Potent Abbott Hepatitis C Virus Protease Inhibitors Show Efficacy and Potential for Once Daily Dosing in Preclinical Studies -

Genotype 1b and HCC

Annual Flu Shot

New Hepatitis C Antiviral CB5300 Identified by Canopus BioPharma Researchers to Enter Clinical Trial Assessment -

Human Genome Sciences Completes Enrollment Ahead of Schedule in Second Phase 3 Albuferon(R) Trial

New Drug CF-102 for Liver Cancer Enters Phase 1 Clinical Trials -

Treating HCV Patients with Psychiatric Disorders

Non-Invasive Markers of Liver Fibrosis

Disability & Benefits: SSI and SSDI: How Much Difference Can a Letter Make?

Review of The Invisible Enemy: A Natural History of Viruses, by Dorothy H. Crawford

Oct

Living with Hepatitis C: Is an Occasional Drink Okay?

58th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Set for Boston, November 2-6, 2007

MRI Predicts Liver Fibrosis, Study Says

Recent Findings Present New Strategy to Fight Hepatitis C

New Virus Drug Will Have To Shoot At Moving Targets

Combination Therapy with HCV Protease Inhibitor Boceprevir Produces a High Rate of Early Virological Response in Genotype 1 Hepatitis C Patients -

Weight-based Dosing Of Ribavirin Improves Outcomes For Patients With Hepatitis C

Weight-based Ribavirin Is Superior to the Standard Fixed Dose in Combination with Pegylated Interferon for Treatment of Genotype 1 Hepatitis C -

R7128 Receives Fast Track Designation from the FDA for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection***

Insulin Resistance and Diabetes Contribute to Impaired Response to Interferon-based Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C

Insulin Resistance Predicts Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Hepatitis C or Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Propranolol Better First-Line Prophylaxis Than Ligation for Variceal Bleeding

"True" weight-based dosing versus "flat' dosing of ribavirin: Will the WIN-R please come forward? Editorial

 Low-Dose Interferon Lozenges HCV & HIV/oral warts Study -

Insulin Resistance and Diabetes

Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy Associated With Increased Traffic Accidents
 

Singer Faithfull has hepatitis C 

Hepatitis C under diagnosed

Attitudes of Health Professionals toward Caring for People with Hepatitis C

Weight-based dosing of ribavirin improves outcomes for patients with hepatitis C

Diabetes Tied To Recurrence of HCV-Related Liver Cancer

Pharmasset Initiates Phase 1 Dose-ranging Study of R7128 plus Pegasys plus Copegus in Genotype 1, Treatment-naive Hepatitis C Patients

Touching 418 Million Lives, Hepatitis Still Presents Significant Threat to Global Health

AUSTRALIA: Most Hepatitis C Sufferers Failing to Access Cure

Treatment Outcomes in HCV Patients Whose Therapy Is Supervised by Expert Hepatologists

Continue reading "Hepatitis C Complication: Breast Cancer"

FDA Safety Changes: Copegus, Intron A

Noninvasive Tests For Cirrhosis May Help To Avoid Liver Biopsy

Sudden hearing loss associated with peginterferon and ribavirin combination therapy during hepatitis

Extrahepatic Manifestions: Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis (MPGN)

Disability & Benefits: Talking to the Disability Examiners

HealthWise: Protection from Viruses: The Mighty Immune System

 ( Part 2 Of a Four-Part Series)

HealthWise: Virology 101

 (Part 1 of a Four-Part Series)

Hepatitis C Virus Therapy - Recent studies from Nicholas Copernicus University add new data to hepatitis C virus therapy

Interferon and Liver Cancer

Hepatitis C Virus - Findings from University Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases in hepatitis C virus reported

Exercise Guidelines

Hepatitis C Virus - Researchers from Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine describe findings in hepatitis C virus

Maxygen Announces Hold on Development of MAXY-alpha (R7025) for Treatment of Hepatitis B and C

Mixing Large Doses Of Common Painkiller And Caffeine May Increase Risk Of Liver Damage

Anti-Cancer Drug PI-88 Awarded Fast Track Status by the Food and Drug Administration

Is Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection More Benign in Patients With Hemophilia?

Pharmasset HCV & HBV Drugs

Maxygen Announces Hold on MAXY-alpha Development Program

European Union's CHMP Issues Positive Opinion on PEGINTRON(TM) Combination Therapy for Retreating Hepatitis C Patients Who Failed Previous Therapy

Preclinical Characterization of TMC435350, a novel macrocyclic inhibitor of the HCV NS3/4A serine protease

Sept

Lowering Hep C Viral Load in Non Responders

Continue reading "Factors Influencing Self-Recovery from Hepatitis C"

Helicase Target for HCV Therapy

Continue reading "Hepatitis Transmission and Swimming Pools"

Idera Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase 1 Trial of IMO-2125 in Hepatitis C -

What Baby Boomers, Seniors Need to Know About Hepatitis C

An Association Unique to HCV Genotype 3

Patients with Depression prior to Hepatitis C Treatment Are Half as Likely to Achieve Sustained Virological Response

Prolonged Interferon Therapy May Prevent Progression of Hepatitis C to Cancer

The Use of Transient Elastometry for Assessing Liver Fibrosis in Patients with HIV and Hepatitis C Virus Coinfection: only detects cirrhosis

XTL Biopharmaceuticals Presents a New Class of Highly Potent Small Molecule Inhibitors of Hepatitis C Affecting the NS5A Target at an International Scientific Conference -

Breast Cancer Patients With Hepatitis C Require Surveillance to Avoid Poor Outcomes: Presented at ASCO-Breast Cancer

Roche Launches Another Large Study With PEGASYS Plus COPEGUS

Symptoms of Liver Disease & Risk Factors for Upper GI Bleeding

New Marker for Liver Cancer May Allow for Earlier Detection

  Driving With Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy: Real World Consequences?

 Muscular exercise can cause highly pathological liver function tests in healthy

Outcomes after Liver Re-transplantation in Patients with Recurrent Chronic Hepatitis C

Coffee Consumption May Reduce the Risk of Liver Cancer

Antiviral Activity of Interferon Beta-1a with or without Ribavirin in Asian Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Romark Initiates Phase II Clinical Trial of Nitazoxanide (Alinia) for Chronic Hepatitis C

Use of Epoetin to Manage Anemia in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Treated with Pegylated Interferon plus Ribavirin

Factors Associated with Long-term Liver Complications after Spontaneous HCV Clearance or Successful Treatment

Risk Factors for Mother-to-child Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus  

Telaprevir plus Pegylated Interferon Is Effective against Both Wild-type and Drug-resistant HCV Strains

HealthWise: Virology 101 (First of a Four-Part Series

Disability & Benefits: COBRA

Coffee

Coffee and Liver Cancer

Human Genome Sciences gets 40 mln usd Albuferon milestone payment from Novartis -

Hep C vaccine shows promise

HCV Care by Liver Specialists or Community-Based Practices: Pro & Con

Rethinking Approaches to Risk Reduction for Injection Drug Users: Differences in Drug
Type Affect Risk for HIV and Hepatitis C Virus Infection Through Drug-Injecting Networks.

A peer-education intervention to reduce injection risk behaviors for HIV and hepatitis C virus
infection in young injection drug users.

Prevention of Variceal Bleeding in Candidates Awaiting Liver Transplantation

Aug

Triphasic .Decline of Hepatitis C Virus RNA during Interferon-based Antiviral Therapy

IAS: Atazanavir safe and effective in HCV-coinfected patients with cirrhosis

Will Fast Hepatitis C Diagnostic Test Meet FDA Approval?

Virological Response and Safety Outcomes in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Treated with Pegylated Interferon plus Taribavirin (Viramidine)

Sodium Levels Can Help Predict Outcomes before and after Liver Transplantation

The Skinny on Fatty Liver Disease

Can Hepatitis C Be Transmitted Through Sexual Contact?

New Technology and Methods to Fight Hepatitis C

Pharmasset Completes Enrollment for Phase 1 Study of Experimental Nucleoside Polymerase Inhibitor R7128 for Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C  

Calderdale liver disease warning

Potential Safety Issue Identified in Ongoing Phase 2 Clinical Study of HCV-796

Compass Healthcare Communications Announces Relaunch of Infergen Web Site

'We must do more to reduce death toll from disease'
 

2,000 Told of Disease Risk from Tattoos, Piercings

Scientists develop new test for liver cancer

Glycan Test May Aid Diagnosis of Liver Cancer

Beating a stigma and staying alive

Stanford researchers develop new genetic marker test to predict likelyhood for progression to cirrhosis of hcv patients:

CAD Increases Accuracy Of Diagnosing Liver Fibrosis

Strategies for the Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Visible light pulses to zap HIV, Hepatitis C

Resiquimod Reduces HCV Viral Load, but Causes Side Effects Similar to Interferon

Extrahepatic Manifestations:  Raynaud’s Phenomenon

HealthWise: A Very Big Four-Letter Word

Doing your Pre-Disability Homework

DDW 2007 Highlights: Part 2

FDA: NM-283 on Hold

Anesthesiologist passed hepatitis C to patients ? Are yours safe?

Drug Helps Cure Hepatitis C Patients
 

Antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C in patients with inherited bleeding disorders:
an international, multicenter cohort study.

Efficacy of ribavirin plus interferon-alpha in patients aged >/=60 years with chronic hepatitis C.

Mitochondrial Toxicity

HCV Drug Pipeline
 

July

Gender Disparity in Liver Cancer May Be Due to Estrogen-mediated Inhibition of Interleukin 6

Continue reading "Getting Easier: Predicting Hepatitis C Treatment Success"

Idenix Suspends Testing of HCV Polymerase Inhibitor Valopicitabine (NM283)

Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a Plus Ribavirin for 16 or 24 Weeks in Patients with Genotype 2 or 3 HCV Infection

Factors That Affect Success of Interferon-based Treatment for Hepatitis C   

OraSure Announces Prototype of new Rapid HCV Antibody Test

Liver transplants one step closer

Obesity 'No. 1 liver issue'

Liver tonics not sure guard against liver diseases

Zinc and the Liver: An Active Interaction

Does the Race or Gender of Hepatitis C Infected Patients Influence Physicians

Natural History of Hepatitis C in Patients with Severe Liver Fibrosis

Epidemiological Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes in Individuals with Genotype 4 HCV Infection

Treatment of Recurrent Hepatitis C in Liver Transplant Recipients

Importance of Adequate Ribavirin

Liver Fibrosis Is Associated with Decreased Peripheral Platelet Count in Patient

Ursodeoxycholic Acid May Reduce Liver Inflammation in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C   

Liver Enzyme Flares and Occult HBV Infection in Patients with Untreated Chronic Hepatitis C   

Three Studies Assess Consensus Interferon for Hepatitis C in Prior Non-responders, Relapsers and Patients with a High Likelihood of Treatment Failure

Chronic Liver Disease and Cardiovascular Risk

Hepatitis C Treatment in Liver Transplant Recipients

Essential Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis

Interferon and Ribavirin Updated

The Emotional Impact of Leaving Work on Disability

HAV infection in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Types of Interferon and How They Work

Valopicitabine Results

HealthWise: Iron Overload

DDW 2007 Highlights

Schering Plough Ends Celgosivir Deal

New Data Suggest that Patients with Chronic Liver Disease are at Increased Risk for Heart Disease

Studies Suggest Ribavirin Does Not Work by Causing Excessive HCV Mutation

'HEP C' MD'S NEW 'VICTIMS'

New RNAi HCV Drug

FDA Approves First Drug for Treating Fibromyalgia

Treatment of Hepatitis C in Potential Lung Transplant Candidates.

Association of Hepatitis C Seropositivity With Increased Risk for Developing End-stage Renal
Disease.

Interferon-based treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

The Pros and Cons of Using Marijuana with Hepatitis C

Non-Invasive and Inexpensive Fibrosis Evaluation for HCV

Getting tattoos comes with risk of diseases

SciClone begins phase II trial of hepatitis C drug

Celebrating 20 years of life

Massive vaccine deal makes Intercell's day

New acute liver failure research from University of Texas, Department of Internal Medicine outlined

HCV seropositivity predisposes patients to end-stage renal disease

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection: A review for pharmacists.
 

June

Roche's Hepatitis C drug Pegasys patent challenged

67% Steatosis in HCV/HIV Coinfected: : Liver inflammation, HCV genotype 3, and BMI are associated with steatosis, a common finding in HCV-HIV-coinfected patients.

Valopicitabine (NM283) Produces Greater Suppression of HCV When Added to Pegylated Interferon plus Ribavirin

Development of Drug Resistance in Patients Treated with HCV Protease Inhibitor Telaprevir (VX-950)  

72-week Treatment with Pegylated Interferon plus Ribavirin Can Produce Sustained Virological Response in Some Prior Relapsers  

Diabetes Treatment May Improve Response to Pegylated Interferon/Ribavirin, and HCV Eradication in Turn May Reduce Insulin Resistance  

Comparison of 6 Non-invasive Measures for Diagnosing Liver Fibrosis in Hepatitis C Patients

Milk Thistle (Silymarin) Demonstrates Anti-inflammatory and Anti-HCV Activity in a Laboratory Study  

Interferon Following Surgery May Improve Survival in Advanced Liver Cancer

Investigational Agent Effectively Attacks Hepatitis C Virus From New Angle: Presented at DDW

HealthWise: Men’s Health and HCV

Extrahepatic Manifestations: Essential Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis

Steatosis and Liver Cancer

Lymphoma Risk Increased with HCV

Body composition, muscle function, and energy expenditure in patients with liver cirrhosis: a comprehensive study

Controlled Release Interferon

Reversibility of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis-is it all hype? Editorial

Glucose Intolerance Associated with Advancing Liver Disease (Fibrosis)

Diabetes Therapy Improves Peg/RBV Response

Early Pegasys/RBV Therapy is Cost Effective, Improves Survival & Reduces Risk for Cirrhosis -

Cost-effectiveness, Survival, and Prevention of Cirrhosis with Early Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C with Peginterferon Alfa-2a (40KD) plus Ribavirin before Progression to Advanced Liver Disease -

HCV Can Be Cured

Treatment Duration and Histological Response to Peginterferon Alfa-2a/Ribavirin: 48 weeks improves liver disease in Non-SVRs better than 24 weeks

Safety and Tolerability of Peginterferon Alfa-2a Plus Ribavirin in HCV Patients Nontolerant or Nonresponsive to Peginterferon Alfa-2b Plus Ribavirin -

Does Attainment of Sustained Virologic Response (SVR) from Treatment of HCV Constitute a Cure?

A Follow-up Week 12 Viral Count Is Useful in Predicting SVR and Is 100% Accurate in Patients without Cirrhosis

Asians with Genotype 1 HCV Respond as Well as Whites to Interferon-based Therapy

Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in Older Patients

Both Pegasys/Ribavirin and PegIntron/Ribavirin Combination Regimens Appear Similar in Efficacy and Safety in HCV Genotype 3 Patients

Treatment with Pegasys Plus Ribavirin in Genotype 2/3 Chronic Hepatitis C Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Transient Elastography as a Non-invasive Method for Predicting Portal Hypertension in Patients with Hepatitis C-related Cirrhosis

Clinical course of hepatitis C virus infection in renal transplant recipients.
 

Oral resiquimod in chronic HCV infection: Safety and efficacy in 2 placebo-controlled,
double-blind phase IIa studies

May

Does Cognitive Function Worsen during Retreatment of Chronic Hepatitis C with Pegylated Interferon plus Ribavirin?

Prolonged Therapy with Pegylated Interferon/Ribavirin May Improve Odds of Sustained HCV Clearance

Albumin Interferon May Be as Effective as Pegylated Interferon with Less Frequent Dosing  

Sexual Transmission of HCV Is Uncommon Among Heterosexual Injection Drug Users

Hepatitis D virus infection - Not a vanishing disease in Europe!

EASL: Low-Dose PegIFN Maintenance Therapy Successful -

HCV Reinfection: is there protective effect following natural HCV clearance? -

Survey Confirms Outbreak of Recently Acquired Hepatitis C among Gay Men in London

Causes of Death in Individuals with Hepatitis B or C
Racial Disparities in Treatment of Patients with Cirrhosis and Complications of Portal Hypertension

Coffee Consumption and Risk of Liver Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

EASL 2007
Liz Highleyman

Hepatitis C virus genotype distribution in Myanmar: Predominance of genotype 6 and existence of
new genotype 6 subtype.

Sustained virological response to interferon reduces cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C: a 1386-patient
study from Taiwan.

HCV Antiviral Activity and Resistance Analysis in Chronically Infected Chimpanzees Treated with Merck NS3/4A Protease and NS5B Polymerase Inhibitors

The APRI may be enhanced by the use of the FIBROSpect II in the estimation of fibrosis in
chronic hepatitis C.

Statins May Improve Liver Fibrosis -

Insulin Resistance Inflames The Liver in HCV -

Low-Dose PegIFN Maintenance Therapy Successful

HCV-796 Shows Antiviral Activity in Combination with Pegylated Interferon

Treatment Duration and Response in Patients with Genotype 2 or 3 HCV Infection

Response to PegIntron/ribavirin Leads to Stabilization of Fibrosis in Liver Transplant Recipients

Selected Patients with Genotype 1 HCV May Attain SVR by Extending Treatment Duration to 72 Weeks

Vertex to meet Hepatitis C patients needs?

Extrahepatic Manifestations: Peripheral Neuropathy (PN)

Two Studies Yield Mixed Results for HCV Polymerase Inhibitor Valopicitabine

Protein found that slows hepatitis C growth in liver cells

Sustained Response to Anti-Hepatitis C Virus Drugs Results in Cure in Virtually All Cases: Presented at EASL

PegIntron + 2 HCV Nucleosides Show Synergy -

New Genetic Diagnostic Tests-Financial Impact

R1479 (R1626), a Novel Hepatitis C Polymerase Inhibitor: Lack of Pre-Existing Resistance Mutations Supports the Observed In Vivo High Barrier to Resistance -

ITMN-191 CONCENTRATIONS ACHIEVED IN THE LIVER OF ANIMALS PROMOTE HCV REPLICON CLEARANCE IN VITRO AND THIS EFFECT IS ENHANCED BY PEG-IFN a-2a (Pegasys)

HCV Protease Inhibitor ITMN-191 Resistance

HCV Protease Inhibitor ITMN-191 + HCV Polymerase Inhibitor R1626 Synergy -

Vitamin K2 (menatetrenone) for bone loss in patients with cirrhosis of the liver

Achillion Presents Positive Data on Novel Mechanism for Treating HCV at EASL Annual Meeting

Psychiatric Disorders No Reason to Exclude Hepatitis C Patients From Peginterferon-Alfa2b Plus Ribavirin Treatment: Presented at EASL

 Treatment of hepatitis C virus infection.

Strategies for managing anemia in hepatitis C patients undergoing antiviral therapy.

April-March

EASL:

Does SVR after Treatment with Pegasys/ribavirin Constitute a Cure for Chronic Hepatitis C?

 Lipid steatosis, metabolic variables and body composition in the setting of HIV/HCV coinfection; findings from a large randomised trial (APRICOT)

400,000 IU/mL Is New Cut-Off for Low vs High Viral Load in HCV

Favorable Cross-Resistance Profile of Two Novel Hepatitis C Virus Inhibitors, SCH 503034 (Boceprevir) and HCV-796, and Enhanced Anti-Replicon Activity Mediated by the Combined Use of Both Compounds

SCH503034 & NM283 Not Cross-Resistant

An open label, comparative, multi-center study of peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) (PEGASYS) plus ribavirin in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C/hepatitis B dual infection versus with mono-infected chronic hepatitis C: An interim report

Virological response at 4 and 12 weeks predict high rates of sustained virological response in genotype 1 patients treated with peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) plus ribavirin -

14 Weeks vs 24 Weeks Peg/RBV for Genotypes 2/3 In vitro

 Resistance Selection to the HCV Nucleoside Polymerase Inhibitor R1479 (R1626) and to the Protease Inhibitor VX-950

SVR Durable (99%) After 5 Years of Followup -

48 Weeks & High Ribavirin Dose May Improve SVR Rates for Genotype 2/3, French study by Bernard Willems

In Patients Who Clear HCV RNA At Week 12 (between week 8 and 12): SVR is Higher After 72 Weeks Than After 48 Weeks Treatment: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abbott HCV Polymerase Inhibitor

CANNABIS USE AS AN INDEPENDENT PREDICTOR OF SEVERE STEATOSIS DURING CHRONIC HEPATITIS C

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Announces New Data for Investigational HCV Protease Inhibitor Telaprevir to be Presented at 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) -

Resistance to New HCV Antivirals -

NM283, HCV Polymerase Inhibitor in Non-Responders

NM283 in Treatment-Naives Looks Better

New HCV Drug Target NS4A Antagonists

Interim Results Presented at EASL from PROVE 1 Clinical Trial of Investigational Drug Telaprevir in Patients with Genotype 1 Hepatitis C

GSK625433: A Novel and Highly Potent Inhibitor of the HCV NS5B Polymerase -

Merck HCV Protease & Polymerase Inhibitor Viral Load Reduction & Resistance in Chimps

GSK625433: A Novel and Highly potent Inhibitor of the HCV NS5B Polymerase -

HCV-796 Polymerase Inhibitor Shows 1.5 log Viral Load Reduction

3-Drug HCV therapy for 12 weeks: VX950+pegIFN+RBV, interim results from phase II PROVE 1 Trial

New Clinical Study Results Indicate Higher Early Virologic Response with Celgosivir Combination Therapy in HCV Non-Responders -

Silent epidemic hepatitis C has U.S. taking notice

Does the Natural History of Hepatitis C Vary According to HCV Genotype?

Chronic Alcohol Consumption Impairs Immune Response to HCV

Reasons Why Patients Infected with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Choose to Defer Treatment: Do
They Alter Their Decision with Time?

Improved Outcomes After SVR, Interferon Therapy

Stem Cells Speed Growth Of Healthy Liver Tissue

Researchers Identify Critical Receptor In Liver Regeneration

Interferon Gamma Does Not Reverse Fibrosis in Hepatitis C Patients with Advanced Liver Disease

Immune Response during Acute HCV Infection

U.S. sees sharp decline in hepatitis cases: CDC Hepatitis C virus infection is associated with insulin resistance among older adults with or at risk of HIV infection

Roche Driving PROGRESS in Treatment of Difficult-to-Cure Hepatitis C Patients With New PEGASYS (R) (peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD)) and COPEGUS(R) (ribavirin) Trial -

Procrit/Epogen FDA Safety Warning

Sustained Response to Interferon Monotherapy Reduces Rates of Liver Cancer and Death in Patients with HCV-related Cirrhosis  

Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus in African Americans With Genotypes 2 and 3 -

PEGASYS(R) Gets European Approval for a Shorter Treatment Duration for Some Genotype 1 and 4 Hepatitis C Patients who Show a Rapid Response to Therapy

Impact of Reducing Peginterferon Alfa-2a and Ribavirin Dose During Retreatment in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C (HALT-C Study) -

Impact of Ribavirin Dose Reductions in Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1 Patients Completing Peginterferon Alfa-2a/Ribavirin Treatment -

Liver Biopsy: Is the Pain for Real or is it Only the Fear of it?

 Heavy Alcohol Use Worsens Disease Progression in Women with Chronic Hepatitis C

How You Can Stop HCV from Leading to Gallstones

Important Updates at HCV and HBV Advocate Websites

Improving Quality Of Life For Patients With Cirrhosis

SVR Improved Quality of Life & Sexual Function in Patients with Advanced Fibrosis in HALT-C Study -

LDL Cholesterol Levels and Amino Acid Substitutions Predict Treatment Response

New HCV Drug R7128 Polymerase Inhibitor

Human Genome Sciences Initiates Phase 3 Clinical Trial of Albuferon(R) With Ribavirin in Treatment-Naive Patients With Chronic H