Hepatitis C

Study results presented at The Liver Meeting 2012 show the experimental treatment leads to high rates of viral clearance in patients with hepatitis C, even in those with compensated cirrhosis.

According to study results presented at The Liver Meeting 2012, combination treatment with ribavirin and the uridine nucleotide analog sofosbuvir achieved high rates of sustained viral response in a range of patients with hepatitis C.

The development of direct acting antivirals has led to significant improvement in treatment outcomes for many patients with hepatitis C. New research has also improved management of treatment-related anemia, helped streamline standard therapy, and identified promising new approaches to interferon-free treatment.

Study results presented at The Liver Meeting 2012 show that administering two direct-acting antivirals results in a high rate of sustained virologic response in patients with hepatitis C who failed previous treatment with ribavirin/peginterferon.

Data presented at The Liver Meeting show that treatment with a combination of three direct-acting antivirals plus ribavirin achieved virus control in almost all patients with hepatitis C in a phase II study.

Boceprevir and telaprevir offer improved clinical benefits to patients with hepatitis C, but a variety of racial, genetic, and other biological factors can influence treatment outcomes.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been referred to as a "stealth virus" because most people who develop chronic hepatitis C don't know they are infected.

The medical community welcomed two new direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents for HCV-telaprevir (Incivek, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated) and boceprevir (Victrelis, Merck & Co., Inc.)-with an excitement that hadn't been seen since 1990.

It's always hard to know how many new therapies will make it all the way through a drug development pipeline.There are 12 combination therapies in phase II trials, 19 individual agents in phase II, and five more in phase III.

"IL-28B receptor polymorphism is an important predictor of SVR in patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin," said Binu John, MD at the Cleveland Clinic.

Bret Lashner, MD, MPH, FACG, shares his thoughts about the first day of the 47th Annual Gastroenterology Update at the Cleveland Clinic, including the recent developments with inflammatory bowel disease and hepatitis C therapy.

A group of French scientists have announced promising results of a vaccine for the debilitating hepatitis C virus.

According to a new study, noninvasive tests for liver fibrosis may predict the survival of patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C.

Patients suffering from advanced hepatitis C and chronic liver disease may benefit from drinking coffee during treatment.

The FDA has approved Incivek as a treatment for an expansive group of people suffering from Hepatitis C.

Boceprevir and telaprevir offer new options for patients with chronic hepatitis C, but their complex dosing regimen may make adherence a challenge.

On May 13, the FDA announced the approval of Victrelis (boceprevir) to treat Hepatitis C virus in adults.

Combination treatment with boceprevir produces a significant reduction in incidence of serious liver complications in patients with hepatitis C.

We've collected links to some of the top podcast resources for primary care physicians.

Last week, the medical license of New Jersey oncologist Dr. Parvez Dara was immediately, but temporarily, suspended by state regulators after health officials presented evidence linking Dara's practice to a hepatitis B outbreak.