Hepatitis C News

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.

SAN FRANCISCO — Approximately one-third of teenagers and young adults with recorded opioid use disorders are screened for hepatitis C infection, according to research presented at IDWeek 2018. Researchers said that only a small portion of these patients are also screened for HIV.

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.

A retrovirus discovered in Neanderthal and Denisovan genomes is more frequently found in people who inject drugs and is likely associated with addictive behavior, according to findings published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

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

From 2013 to 2017, hepatitis C virus testing in the United States marginally increased among people born between 1966 and 1994 and 1945 and 1965, possibly as a result of better awareness of HCV in these population groups, researchers said.

Risk for developing diabetes after undergoing kidney transplantation increased more than threefold for adults with presurgical hepatitis C infection vs. those with hepatitis B and those without infection, according to study results from researchers in China.

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.

Transplantation with hepatitis C nucleic acid test-positive kidneys in HCV-negative recipients followed by direct-acting antiviral therapy demonstrated improved patient outcomes and significant cost-savings, according to results of a recent modelling study.