hepatitis C virus infection

Investigational genotype 1 hepatitis C treatment

harminka — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:02:23 -0600

New clinical data show antiviral activity of TMC435, an investigational protease inhibitor (PI) being developed by Tibotec BVBA for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Scientists see Norwalk virus' Achilles heel

harminka — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:52:37 -0500

Using the Canadian Light Source synchrotron, an international team led by University of Calgary researcher Ken Ng has determined the detailed structure of the enzyme the Norwalk virus uses to make copies of its genetic code in order to replicate itself. The information is crucial to developing drugs that could be used to treat outbreaks of Norwalk and other related viruses.

Extra-hepatic manifestation of hepatitis C virus infection

harminka — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:55:27 -0600

In 1994, the team of Tchernev and Petrova from Alexandrovska Hospital in Sofia examined a female patient with liver cirrhosis caused by chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Eltrombopag effective for hepatitis C patients with low blood-platelet counts

harminka — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 14:57:46 -0600

For patients with hepatitis C, having a low blood platelet count is a frequent complication associated with advanced disease. This problem is compounded by the fact that standard antiviral treatment for the disease can further reduce platelet numbers to dangerously low levels, effectively denying these patients the treatment they urgently need.

Researchers determine weight-based dosing is key to optimal treatment

harminka — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:31:13 -0600

As reported recently in the journal Hepatology, WIN-R, a multicenter study of over 5,000 patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) showed treatment with weight-based REBETOL® (ribavirin, USP) (RBV) in combination with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alfa-2b achieved significantly higher rates of sustained virologic response (SVR) and lower relapse rates compared to combination therapy using a flat dose of RBV 800 mg/day.

Can liver cirrhosis be partially cured?

harminka — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 14:11:22 -0500

The diffusion of hepatitis C virus infection worldwide is astonishing. Liver cirrhosis is present in at least 10-20% of these infected patients, with highly increasing health care and emotional costs. In patients with compensated (early stage) hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis, antiviral combined therapy offers an interesting rate of response, ending in viral clearance.

Possible Hepatitis C vaccine

harminka — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 00:59:44 -0500

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infects up to 500,000 people in the UK alone, many of the infections going undiagnosed. It is the single biggest cause of people requiring a liver transplant in Britain.

Who will recover spontaneously from hepatitis C virus infection

harminka — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:14:24 -0500

More than 3% of world population is infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The outcome of HCV infections is either self recovery or chronic hepatitis, and many of the chronic infections will develop into liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Different factors affect success of interferon treatment for hepatitis C

harminka — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 10:35:24 -0500

A new study on predicting outcomes of standard treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection found that a number of factors impacted responses, including the form of the interferon given. However, for some genotypes of the disease, few of these factors play a role.

Hepatitis C negatively impacts HIV

harminka — Mon, 28 May 2007 03:20:32 -0500

Researchers at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) have found that persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), who also have alcohol problems, were negatively affected by co-infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). These findings appear in the June issue of Alcoholism: Clinical Experimental Research.

Cure for hepatitis C announced

harminka — Tue, 22 May 2007 05:59:53 -0500

The use of peginterferon alone, or in combination with ribavirin, points to a cure for hepatitis C, the leading cause of cirrhosis, liver cancer and the need for liver transplant, a Virginia Commonwealth University researcher said today.

Hepatitis C virus treatment outcomes of Celgosivir

harminka — Mon, 21 May 2007 05:25:45 -0500

Celgosivir is a new class of antiviral medicine in clinical development for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Researchers tested this new antiviral medicine and measured its potential to offer improved treatment outcomes when combined with other anti-HCV drugs.