Hepatitis C News and Research

Latest Hepatitis C News and Research

Discovery offers potential target for reversing progression of end-stage liver disease

A team of researchers in the University of Arizona's College of Pharmacy has discovered a molecular pathway that could be key to creating new therapeutics that would slow or even reverse the progression of end-stage liver disease.

26 Apr 2014

Aetna raises earnings outlook

In other market news, coverage continues of the cost and effectiveness of Sovaldi, a new drug to treat hepatitis C, and the related earnings gained by Gilead Sciences, its manufacturer.

25 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 24, 2014

Today's headlines include a number of reports about how the health law is playing in midterm election campaigns.

25 Apr 2014

Sales of hepatitis drug shatter records

Record sales of the pricey new drug, Sovaldi, pushed first-quarter earnings of Gilead Sciences beyond expectations. Meanwhile, Novartis' recently announced deals with GlaxoSmithKline and Eli Lilly show manufacturers' swing towards specialization, reports The Wall Street Journal.

25 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 23, 2014

Today's headlines include a range of health policy news reports, including developments related to the health law, to the marketplace and at the state level.

23 Apr 2014

FDA announces expanded approval of Arzerra in combination with chlorambucil for CLL treatment

The US Food and Drug Administration has announced the expanded approval of Arzerra (ofatumumab) in combination with chlorambucil for the first-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Arzerra was previously approved by the FDA in October 2009 for the treatment of CLL resistant to other forms of chemotherapy. Diplomat has access to dispense Arzerra.

22 Apr 2014

Cost of Hep C medicines vexing insurers

As health insurance companies reveal much anticipated first-quarter earnings, it's the unpredictable impact from the five-figure cost of new Hepatitis C treatments that are the subject of as much Wall Street worry as the Affordable Care Act.

22 Apr 2014

Automated diagnostic technologies redefine infectious diseases

The diagnostics market for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus and human papilloma virus is expanding, giving rise to commercial opportunities especially in the developing economies of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

22 Apr 2014

Doctors must consider factors when administering combination vaccines, say researchers

One of the most popular vaccine brands for children may not be the most cost-effective choice. And doctors may be overlooking some cost factors when choosing vaccines, driving the market toward what is actually a more expensive option, according to a new study by University of Illinois researchers.

22 Apr 2014

UnitedHealth cites health law, costly hepatitis drug in reporting lower earnings

The health law's effect was mixed, officials said, because the company did not participate in many of the online marketplaces, but it did see more customers for its Medicaid plans. Officials are considering a bigger role in the marketplaces next year.

21 Apr 2014

Skin docs prescribe costlier drugs after free samples

In other news, panels recommend a costly hepatitis C drug for the sickest patients, and cancer doctors will compare the value of costly cancer drugs.

18 Apr 2014

Deaths from viral Hepatitis B and C exceed deaths caused by HIV/AIDS

Deaths from viral Hepatitis B and C have surpassed HIV/AIDS in many countries, including Australia and in Western Europe, according to an analysis of the 2010 Global Burden of Disease study.

18 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 17, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about emerging political strategies related to the health law and the upcoming congressional elections.

17 Apr 2014

UnitedHealth Group reports strong revenue growth in Q1 2014

UnitedHealth Group today reported first quarter results, highlighted by Optum's strong growth in revenues, operating earnings and revenue backlog and UnitedHealthcare's continued strong, diversified performance despite the negative impacts of newly effective ACA taxes and regulatory provisions and sequestration cuts to Medicare.

17 Apr 2014

Entries now open for 2014 Quality in Care Hepatitis C programme

The first Quality in Care (QiC) Hepatitis C programme is now open for entry to teams and individuals working within the field of hepatitis C.

17 Apr 2014

Viewpoints: Obamacare dilemma -- some people dislike the law but embrace its provisions; are health costs falling?

Polls have consistently shown that even though the public opposes Obamacare, people like some of its most significant provisions. That's particularly true of the requirement that insurers ignore preexisting conditions when signing up customers for coverage.

16 Apr 2014

Researchers identify mechanism that explains reason for persistence of hepatitis C virus

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a mechanism that explains why people with the hepatitis C virus get liver disease and why the virus is able to persist in the body for so long.

16 Apr 2014

Optimal use of combination therapy achieves best treatment outcomes in patients with CHB

Three new studies presented today at the International Liver CongressTM 2014 have helped clarify the optimal use of combination therapy with peginterferon and nucleoside analogues (NUCs) to achieve the best treatment outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

16 Apr 2014

U.S. health care spending, usage rise

Americans' spending on medicines in 2013 rose 3.2 percent to nearly $330 billion, fueling speculation that a dip in overall health care spending may be over.

16 Apr 2014

Johnson & Johnson's sales increase 3.5% to $18.1 billion in first quarter 2014

Johnson & Johnson today announced sales of $18.1 billion for the first quarter of 2014, an increase of 3.5% as compared to the first quarter of 2013. Operational results increased 5.3% and the negative impact of currency was 1.8%. Domestic sales increased 2.2%. International sales increased 4.5%, reflecting operational growth of 7.9% and a negative currency impact of 3.4%.

15 Apr 2014