New drug provides hope for treating hepatitis C

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Source: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/k...w.drug.provides.hope.for.treating.hepatitis.C

New drug provides hope for treating hepatitis C
Veronique LaCapra, St. Louis Public Radio (2010-04-08)


ST. LOUIS, MO (St. Louis Public Radio) - An international study suggests that a new drug may provide hope for hepatitis C patients who don't respond to existing medications.

The current treatment for hepatitis C -- a difficult six-to-twelve-month course of two medications -- cures only about 50 percent of patients.

Saint Louis University professor of internal medicine Dr. Adrian Di Bisceglie helped test the effects of a new drug, telaprevir, on patients who either didn't respond to existing medications at all, or relapsed after treatment...

Also See:
http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/healthteam/story/7386301/

 

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Re: New drug provides hope for treating hepatitis C

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2010/04/19/2876779.htm

New drug improves hepatitis C outcome

Monday, 19 April 2010 Peter Lavelle
ABC

A new class of drugs promises to boost the effectiveness of hepatitis C treatment, according to a recent study.

The team of North American and European researchers, led by Dr John McHutchison of Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, found telaprevir, a new class of drugs called protease inhibitors, substantially boosted cure rates and reduced treatment times in people with hepatitis C.

Their findings appear in a recent edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

In Australia, more than 200,000 people have hepatitis C.

Treatment currently consists of dual therapy with interferon - an immune stimulant given by weekly injection - and ribavirin - an antiviral drug given as twice daily tablets. This combination cures between 40% and 80% of people with the virus.

But for many the virus is difficult to eradicate...