Hepatitis C News

New data from the GARNET study — presented today in Paris at the 2016 EASL Special Conference: New Perspectives in Hepatitis C Virus Infection – The Roadmap for Cure — showed 98% of patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b infection without cirrhosis achieved sustained virologic response 12 weeks after treatment with Exviera plus Viekirax without ribavirin, with some showing high rates after 8 weeks.

International students attending a leading research university in Malaysia were not fully knowledgeable about hepatitis B and C viruses, according to recent findings published in BMC Public Health. Despite this, most of them displayed safe practices.

The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommend all patients beginning direct-acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus infection be assessed for hepatitis B virus infection, according to a press release on an update to HCV guidance.

Sovaldi-based combination therapies led to 12-week sustained virologic response in nearly 93% of patients who were reinfected with hepatitis C virus and had severe fibrosis after receiving a liver transplant, according to findings published in Liver Transplantation.

Eiger BioPharmaceuticals announced that LOWR HDV-4 phase 2 study dosing is complete, according to a press release.

The Lasker Foundation lauded several scientists, including three whose research was used to “revolutionize the treatment” of hepatitis C, according to a press release.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common chronic blood borne infection in the United States. Approximately 75% to 85% of HCV-infected persons will progress to chronic HCV infection and are at risk for the development of extrahepatic manifestations, compensated and decompensated cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Approximately 3.2 million persons in the United States are chronically infected today. HCV-associated disease represents the leading indication in the United States for liver transplantation and the leading cause of hepatocellular cancer. The rapid evolution of therapeutic choices in HCV presents opportunities and substantial challenges to physicians, pharmacy directors, medical directors, and other health plan decision makers. In light of evidence for the superior efficacy and adverse effect profiles of new and emerging therapies, health care professionals must select patients for treatment based on a thorough understanding of the economic, clinical, and societal ramifications of their decisions. This activity will help health care professionals implement practice changes and policies to improve patient outcomes in a cost-effective manner.

Penn Medicine announced today the launch of a clinical trial investigating the safety and efficacy of transplanting kidneys from deceased donors positive for hepatitis C virus infection to patients without the infection on the kidney transplant wait list.

In an era when ‘special’ populations within hepatitis C — even those with resistance-associated variants — begin to shrink out of sight, questions arise about the utility or necessity of comprehensive genomic testing and research in HCV. Most experts believe that knowing a patient’s genotype remains a critical piece of information, along with the presence or absence of baseline RAVs. But whether the research community should continue moving forward with exhaustive analysis of other genomic information about the virus could be up for debate.

At the International Liver Congress in April 2016, the presidents of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, European Association for the Study of the Liver, Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver and Latin American Association for the Study of the Liver signed the Joint Society Statement for Elimination of Viral Hepatitis. With so much attention already focused on hepatitis C in light of advances in antiviral therapies, the authors of the statement aimed to draw significant resources to the causes of eradication of both B and C. The proposed inter-continental communication and collaboration could result in improved outcomes and reduced incidence of viral hepatitis worldwide. But eradication is a significant task that requires coordination at the global level, the national level, the community level and the individual doctor–patient relationship level. It is with this in mind that HCV Next asks: We have made this pledge, now what?