Added Anti-Viral Halves Duration of Hepatitis C Treatment

About three million Americans have chronic Hepatitis C, a liver disease thats the most common condition leading to liver transplantation in the U.S.

Although Hepatitis C is treatable, the standard 48-week therapy only cures about 40% of patients, and its side effects are notoriously brutal and very difficult for many patients to endure.

But a new Duke University Medical Center study finds adding a new anti-viral drug to the standard therapy can cut the length of the treatment regimen in half, while curing more patients.

Lots of people have side effects- they feel like they have the flu, a third of patients get depressed, so its not easy for patients. So being able to reduce the duration of therapy from 48 weeks to 24 weeks is really a significant benefit for patients.

Renee Webb is a nurse and mom who received several accidental needle sticks back in the 1980s.

She was diagnosed with Hepatitis C seven years ago, but waited to be a part of the study instead of having the standard 48-week treatment.

I just dont think its something that I could have done. You really have to put life on hold for a year, and I just wasnt willing to do that with a 2 year old and a 6 year old.

The study drug is telaprevir, an experimental compound that blocks an enzyme that the Hepatitis C virus needs in order to grow.

Not surprisingly, about 40% of patients in the study who received the standard 48-week treatment were cured, but cure rates were significantly higher in patients who received Telaprevir in addition to the standard therapy.

Now with the results of this trial, were curing 60 to 65 percent and shortening the therapy, so these are significant advances for patients with Hepatitis C.

The study was funded by the makers of telaprevir, who are currently evaluating the drug in phase 3 clinical trials. The results were published in the April 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. At the Duke University Medical Center, I'm Mike Garrison

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Duke
• University
• Medical
• Center
• hepatitis
• virus
• study
• drug
• telaprevir
• cure
• 48
• weeks
• 24

[ak47doubletap]

Angelo,

As nurse & infected w/ HCV ~~ as you know much depends on Genotype. Am just Xploring YouTuber's differing opinions. Last time I spoke w/ DR and/or friend ~~ Pegasis [sic] was recommended ~~ several yrs ago. sure much has changed. Next checkin' out your channel. Noticed your posts on several I have ck'ed out. Thnx

[angelo212]

Seems like the percentage numbers they give out are very different then other numbers I read over and over for treatment SVR. Duke says people get a SVR around 40% and with the added med get a SVR of 60 to 65%. Other studys say people get 50 to 55% SVR and with the Telapir get a SVR 70 to 75%. Big difference. Wonder who is right.

[jontheid]

This really is excellent news!