Hepatitis B Virus News and Research

RSS

Genetic relic of the 'Black Death' may provide clues for treating fatal liver scarring

A gene mutation that is believed to have safeguarded some people in 14th century Europe from the bubonic plague today may be protecting HIV patients co-infected with hepatitis C from potentially fatal liver scarring, says a University of Cincinnati College of Medicine physician-scientist.

3 Dec 2018

First biosimilar approved by FDA for treatment of adult patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Truxima (rituximab-abbs) as the first biosimilar to Rituxan (rituximab) for the treatment of adult patients with CD20-positive, B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) to be used as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy.

29 Nov 2018

FIND explores new diagnostic assays for confirmatory HCV diagnosis in community settings

The Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics today announced awards to support the development, manufacture and feasibility testing of two prototype hepatitis C virus core antigen immunoassays for confirmatory HCV diagnosis at the point of care.

16 Nov 2018

NIH researchers shed light on causes of HBV-associated acute liver failure

National Institutes of Health scientists and their collaborators found that hepatitis B virus-associated acute liver failure--a rare condition that can turn fatal within days without liver transplantation--results from an uncommon encounter between a highly mutated HBV variant and an unusual immune response in the patient's liver that is mainly sustained by antibody-producing B cells.

14 Nov 2018

Study shows new emerging role of osteopontin in HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and was estimated to be responsible for 745,000 deaths in 2012.

13 Nov 2018

Phase III CLL14 study evaluating Venclexta plus Gazyva to treat CLL meets its primary endpoint

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group , announced today that the randomized Phase III CLL14 study, which evaluated fixed-duration Venclexta® in combination with Gazyva® in people with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia and co-existing medical conditions, met its primary endpoint and showed a statistically significant reduction in the risk of disease worsening or death compared to standard-of-care Gazyva plus chlorambucil.

1 Nov 2018

Research reveals high stability of hepatitis B viruses

At room temperature, hepatitis B viruses (HBV) remain contagious for several weeks and they are even able to withstand temperatures of four degrees centigrade over the span of nine months.

30 Oct 2018

Researchers identify new potential target to inhibit progression of liver disease

Naglaa Shoukry, Ph. D., and her team have made a significant breakthrough in their research aiming to limit the progression of liver disease.

26 Oct 2018

FDA approves update to Rituxan label to include information on treatment of rare forms of vasculitis

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved an update to the Rituxan® (rituximab) label to include information on follow up treatment of adult patients with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis and Microscopic Polyangiitis who have achieved disease control with induction treatment.

22 Oct 2018

One-time universal screening recommended to tackle increase in hepatitis C

Physicians are encountering a growing number of younger patients who are testing positive for hepatitis C virus fueled largely by the opioid crisis impacting communities around the country.

17 Oct 2018

Antimicrobial signaling molecule has lower activity against hepatitis C virus in most humans

An antimicrobial signaling molecule called IFNλ4 has lower activity against the hepatitis C virus in the vast majority of humans compared with chimpanzees and African hunter-gatherer Pygmies, according to a study published October 11 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by John McLauchlan’s research team at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research in the UK, and colleagues.

12 Oct 2018

Research reveals new details of HIV life cycle

Research by a multi-institutional team, including two members from the University of Delaware, has revealed new details about the HIV virus capsid structure and how it develops.

5 Oct 2018

Gilead Sciences plans to launch authorized generic versions of Epclusa and Harvoni in the US

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced today plans to launch authorized generic versions of Epclusa and Harvoni, Gilead's leading treatments for chronic hepatitis C virus, in the United States, through a newly created subsidiary, Asegua Therapeutics LLC.

24 Sep 2018

China NMPA approves LENVIMA for treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Eisai Co., Ltd. and Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth N.J., U.S.A., known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced that the China National Medical Products Administration approved the kinase inhibitor LENVIMA (lenvatinib) as a single agent for the treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma who have not received prior systemic therapy.

24 Sep 2018

Researchers identify Zika virus proteins with potential to affect brain development

In healthy individuals, the Zika virus causes flu-like symptoms. If a pregnant woman becomes infected, the unborn child can suffer from severe brain abnormalities as a result of mechanisms that have not yet been explained.

4 Sep 2018

Kidney transplantation can be safely performed using organs from patients who had HCV

Researchers at Loma Linda University Health found that kidney transplantation can be safely performed using organs testing positive for the hepatitis C virus antibody but negative for active viral infection.

23 Aug 2018

FIND and genedrive announce study agreement to evaluate HCV ID Kit

genedrive plc, a near patient molecular diagnostics company, and the Foundation for Innovation of New Diagnostics (FIND), announced today a study agreement for the performance evaluation of genedrive plc’s hepatitis C virus (HCV) Genedrive HCV ID Kit.

10 Aug 2018

Researchers provide new insight on origins and global spread of HBV

Researchers have provided new insight on the geographical origins and global spread of two classes of the hepatitis B virus (HBV), according to a study in eLife.

7 Aug 2018

Scientists identify two potential new drug targets for treatment of HIV

Johns Hopkins scientists report they have identified two potential new drug targets for the treatment of HIV. The finding is from results of a small, preliminary study of 19 people infected with both HIV-;the virus that causes AIDS-;and the hepatitis C virus.