Hepatitis B Virus News and Research

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New approaches for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C

Data from two ongoing studies testing new approaches for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C was presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) this afternoon.

1 Nov 2004

Pegasys with ribavirin combo may best for reducing hepatitis C viral levels

Interim study results indicate a certain drug combination treatment may suppress the hepatitis C virus more quickly than another.

1 Nov 2004

Routine screening of blood samples would reduce the risk of disease transmission among transplant recipients

Results of a study in this week’s issue of THE LANCET suggest that routine screening of blood samples to detect viral RNA among organ and tissue donors who do not have obvious signs of clinical disease would reduce the risk of disease transmission among transplant recipients.

29 Oct 2004

Hepatitis C infection increases likelihood of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma significantly

Patients infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) are six times as likely to develop non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) than individuals that are virus free, according to research presented at the Third Annual Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research meeting.

18 Oct 2004

Viruses from human sources occur in the La Crosse, Wisconsin municipal drinking water supply prior to its chlorination

Although the city's treated water meets or exceeds state and federal standards for drinking water, researchers and public health officials agree that more study is needed to pinpoint sources of the viruses and to determine if some viruses are surviving chlorination and making people sick with diarrhea and vomiting.

6 Oct 2004

Bristol-Myers Squibb submits New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for entecavir

Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced the submission of a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for entecavir, an investigational antiviral agent under development for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis B.

4 Oct 2004

Chiron grants a non-exclusive license to the German Red Cross

Chiron Corporation has announced that it has granted a non-exclusive license to the Blood Transfusion Centers of the German Red Cross (Blutspendediensten des Deutsche Rotes Kreuz, or DRK) for use of the company's HIV-1 and hepatitis C virus (HCV) technology for use in molecular probe "home brew" blood screening.

4 Oct 2004

Circulation of ‘disaster myths’ in Haiti could hinder appropriate disposal of bodies

Myths about the infectious disease threat posed by dead bodies could lead to insensitive and inappropriate treatment of victims’ bodies following the floods in Haiti, and need to be checked, according to a public health researcher who has studied the potential risks at length.

30 Sep 2004

New combination of drugs results in fewer incidences of rejection in liver transplant patients

“The big advantage [of this combination of drugs] is that the incidence of rejection is significantly decreased,” he says. “These results could change the standard of care for liver transplant recipients.”

23 Sep 2004

Research to halt the progress of chronic liver disease

A University of Queensland researcher is working to halt the progress of chronic liver disease, which affects a quarter of million Australians.

22 Sep 2004

Long-term outcomes for liver transplantation due to hepatitis C

A new study on liver transplants necessitated by the hepatitis C virus (the most common indication for this type of transplant) found that long-term outcomes are similar to patients receiving transplants due to other diseases.

8 Sep 2004

Researchers have identified multiple changes in the gene-expression patterns of cells involved with tumor progression in liver cancer patients

Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have identified multiple changes in the gene-expression patterns of cells involved with tumor progression in liver cancer patients and in those with cirrhosis, which may help scientists predict a person’s risk of developing primary liver cancer.

25 Aug 2004

Surprise finding could lead to hepatitis C vaccine

New research from the University of New South Wales shows some people may repeatedly be able to clear hepatitis C virus from their bodies, without any biological traces of the potentially serious infection.

23 Aug 2004

Peginterferon and Ribavirin combination promising for those with HIV and HCV

Since the introduction of highly active combination drug therapy for HIV, liver failure attributable to infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) has become a leading cause of death among those infected with the virus that causes AIDS.

22 Aug 2004

Nucleic acid-amplification testing has improved the safety of the nation's blood supply

State-of-the-art testing systems to screen donated blood have improved the safety of the nation's blood supply by preventing the transmission of potentially deadly viruses, according to a new study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

18 Aug 2004

Significant advance in the understanding of the hepatitis C virus (HCV)

Researchers have made a significant advance in the understanding of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) by identifying new genetic factors associated with clearing the virus spontaneously without the necessity for additional treatment.

9 Aug 2004

Correlation between HCV viral load and severity of liver disease

The significance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) serum titers (HCV viral load) has been examined in several clinical situations. There is much evidence that patients with a lower viral load have better response rates to anti-viral therapy compared to those with higher levels.

9 Aug 2004

Self-recovery from Hep C infection linked to genes that suppress action of killer immune cells

In a study to be published in Science online Aug. 6, researchers at Johns Hopkins have found that genes involved in suppressing the body's defensive "killer" immune cells are a potential key factor in spontaneous recovery from hepatitis C.

5 Aug 2004

Metabasis Therapeutics announces multi-center Phase 2 study to evaluate the orally administered antiviral compound remofovir mesylate

Metabasis Therapeutics has announced the initiation of a multi-center, multi- national Phase 2 study to evaluate the orally administered antiviral compound remofovir mesylate in chronic hepatitis B (HBV) infected patients.

3 Aug 2004

Study shows safe, effective therapy for previously untreated patients with HIV & hepatitis C

An international study with nearly 900 patients co-infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) has shown that HCV can be treated effectively and safely, without compromising the patient’s HIV therapy.

29 Jul 2004