Hepatitis C News

This year at the American College of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting, several hepatology specialists discussed the changing landscape of liver disease health care, such as increasing rates of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease which is quickly becoming the number one indication for liver transplantation.

The Canadian Minister of Health announced that the Government of Canada will fund 28 projects across the country designed to reduce the risk for bloodborne infections, such as hepatitis C and HIV, among people who use injection drugs, according to a press release.

PHILADELPHIA – The direct-acting antiviral Vosevi demonstrated an average sustained virologic response rate of 87% among patients who were “triple-infected” with hepatitis C genotype 3, hepatitis B and HIV, as presented at the American College of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting.

PHILADELPHIA — Early detection of liver-related complications and hepatic diseases in patients who are pregnant leads to reduced risks and improved outcomes for both mother and child, according to a presentation at the American College of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting.

Experts in a recent review stated that an effective hepatitis C vaccine is critical for significant global control of the infection in combination with increased screening and treatment.

Researchers found that both donation and use of hepatitis C-positive livers has steadily increased over the last couple years due to a significant number of livers from younger individuals related to the rise of drug overdose-related deaths, according to a recently published study.

Gilead Sciences announced plans to launch authorized generic versions of Epclusa and Harvoni, according to a company press release.

Cepheid received the CE-IVD mark for the Xpert HCV VL Fingerstick, a molecular test designed to detect and quantify hepatitis C RNA levels from a fingerstick blood sample, according to a press release.

The Louisiana Department of Health is currently developing a “subscription style” payment plan with pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide state residents with access to hepatitis C treatment.

In this guest commentary from the Liver Health Initiative, Thelma King Thiel, RN, BA, former CEO of both the American Liver Foundation and the Hepatitis Foundation International, gives insight into speaking with pediatric patients and parents about liver health. After losing her son to biliary atresia, Thiel focused on training health care providers about liver health. She recently founded the Liver Health Initiative to continue to fill the knowledge gap that exists about liver health.