Hepatitis C

Scientists have mapped the structure of a hepatitis C virus surface protein that is responsible for binding to host liver cells, leading to virus entry.

Most children with hepatitis C contract the virus through transmission from their chronically infected mothers, either in the womb or at birth, particularly when an expectant mother also is HIV-positive.

The FDA has granted priority review for a New Drug Application submitted by AbbVie Inc. for its all-oral, interferon-free therapy for patients with chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C virus infection.

The US Food and Drug Administration partially lifted a clinical hold on a hepatitis C drug under development by Achillion Pharmaceuticals, clearing the way for a restart of the company's clinical trials of sovaprevir.

People from the Baby Boom generation covered under Medicare can now get one-time screening for hepatitis C, according to a memo from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Noting that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the discovery of hepatitis C, health officials ramped up a public awareness campaign during the month of May to encourage more testing for hepatitis among at-risk populations.

An oral, interferon-free regimen comprised of several agents cured hepatitis C in more than 90% of patients who also had liver cirrhosis, according to the results of an international study.

A Swedish pharmaceutical company has been granted approval by the European Commission to market the drug simeprevir for the treatment of genotype 1 and 4 chronic hepatitis C infection.

A project to expand hepatitis C treatment by equipping primary care doctors with telemedicine tools more than doubled the proportion of patients expected to receive treatment in Arizona and Utah, according to a recently released government report.

An all-oral antiviral drug combination that included ombitasvir and dasabuvir with and without ribavirin resulted in high cure rates among patients with hepatitis C virus infections in first-time treatments for the disease, according to an article published in the May 4, 2014, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Results from the PEARL-II study show treatment-experienced patients with hepatitis C genotype 1b achieved SVR rates of greater than 96% when treated with a combination of ABT 450 with ritonavir, co-formulated with ombitasvir and dasabuvir, without the need for ribavirin.

An all-oral, ribavirin-free, interferon-free combination of three direct-acting antiviral agents that had achieved sustained virologic response in 92% of patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection has demonstrated even greater response in patients with genotype 4 infection.

Treatment with an 8-week regimen of combination sofosbuvir plus ledipasvir with or without ribavirin produced sustained virologic response rates (SVR) similar to those achieved with a 12-week regimen in non-cirrhotic, previously untreated, genotype 1 hepatitis C patients, according to results from the ION-3 trial.

Patients in the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-term Treatment Against Cirrhosis trial who were also treated with statins experienced a significant decrease in time to histological disease progression compared to patients who did not receive statin treatment.

Within the next two years, treatments for hepatitis C with 95% cure rates that are all-oral, interferon-free, and effective within 12 weeks or less with negligible side effects will be readily available.

A multipronged approach built around screening, education, community outreach, and expanded access to care is critical to reducing the prevalence of hepatitis C in the African-American community.

Company is seeking FDA approval for its all-oral, interferon-free regimen for the treatment of adult patients with chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C.

New guidance from the WHO includes nine key recommendations covering screening, treatment, alcohol use assessment and counseling, and measures to prevent transmission of the virus.

A large multinational observational study of patients with hepatitis C reveals etiology does not play a major role in HCV survival rates and that early detection and access to treatment have a greater impact.

Preliminary results from the M12-999 study show that treatment with ABT-450/ritonavir/ombitasvir plus dasabuvir and ribavirin is well tolerated and associated with high rates of sustained virologic response in adult liver transplant recipients with recurrent HCV genotype 1 infection.

Results from the phase III ION-2 study show a 24-week regimen of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir does not produce significantly better cure rates than a 12-week regimen in treatment-experienced patients.

Results from the SAPPHIRE-I trial show that Abbvie's 3D therapy produced 96% sustained viral response rates at 12 weeks in treatment-naive patient with genotype 1 hepatitis C.

Data from the PEARL-I trial of patients with hepatitis C genotype 4 show high rates of sustained virologic response at 12 weeks associated with combination treatment with ABT-450 (a protease inhibitor boosted by ritonavir) and ombitasvir.

An 8-week course of treatment with a fixed dose combination of ledipasvir plus sofosbuvir produced sustained virologic response in more than 90 percent of treatment-naïve patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C.

With state-of-the-art treatment regimens for hepatitis C becoming more effective and easier to administer and monitor, care delivery will shift away from specialists to include more involvement by primary care physicians.

SAPPHIRE II trial results show sustained virologic response in 96% of treatment-experienced patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C who were treated with interferon-free, triple-drug regimen.

Federal plan includes new hepatitis C testing recommendations, enhanced hepatitis B education and outreach initiatives, and increased efforts at surveillance to monitor disease transmission, and other components.

Janssen will test the combination simeprevir 150 mg and sofosbuvir 400 mg in approximately 400 hepatitis c treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced patients.

Bristol Myers-Squibb announced it has submitted new drug applications for the investigational products daclatasvir and asunaprevir for the treatment of patients with genotype 1b hepatitis C.

Gilead's new drug application for a once-daily, fixed dose combination of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection in adults has been given priority review by the FDA.