Hepatitis C News

Experts estimate that the hepatitis C market in the Asia-Pacific region — including India, China, Australia, South Korea and Japan — will grow from $5.3 in 2016 to $8.3 billion in 2023, according to a press release from GBI Research.

Cost-effectiveness research and analyses of hepatitis C treatment thus far lacks patient engagement, according to a recently published literature review. These patients face a variety of negative physical, social and psychological effects that are not represented in studies focused on payer outcomes.

Recently, the nation of Georgia and the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma have reported excellent progress toward elimination of hepatitis C among their populations. Additionally, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium announced the elimination of acute hepatitis B and early-onset of hepatocellular carcinoma as a public health threat among its pediatric population.

All adolescent patients available for follow-up after treatment with Harvoni for chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 achieved sustained virologic response at 12 weeks with no serious adverse events, further supporting its approval in this population.

In a short-term analysis, researchers found that survival rates improved among patients who underwent liver transplant for chronic hepatitis C after direct-acting antiviral approvals.

New findings suggest that sharing paraphernalia used to cook and prepare injection drugs does not directly lead to transmission of hepatitis C virus.

Direct-acting antiviral use resulted in high rates of sustained virologic response and were safely tolerated in patients with chronic hepatitis C and mixed cryoglobulinemia, according to a recently published study. Researchers observed that most patients did not have a complete clinical or immunological response, however, suggesting a delayed response.

Researchers at West Virginia University are leading a new, federally funded project designed to prevent outbreaks of HIV, hepatitis C and other opioid-related infections through enhanced screening, prevention and treatment efforts, according to a press release.

Health Canada approved Gilead’s Vosevi for treating patients with chronic hepatitis C with genotypes 1 through 6 previously treated with an NS5A inhibitor-containing regimen, or with genotypes 1 through 4 previously treated with sofosbuvir-containing regimen without an NS5A inhibitor, according to a press release.

Health Canada approved AbbVie’s Maviret for treating adults with chronic hepatitis C for all genotypes, according to a press release. Maviret is designated for patients without cirrhosis and who are new to treatment.