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Scientists claim new "cure" for hepatitis C

By sciencetolife on May 23, 2007.

Scientists from Virginia Commonwealth University claim to have developed a treatment for hepatitis C that can be considered a "cure".

Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading cause of life-threatening liver cancer and cirrhosis in the United States. An estimated 4.1 million Americans have been infected with the virus.

The researchers, who presented their findings at the 38th annual Digestive Disease Week conference in Washington, D.C, say that use of the drug peginterferon alone, or in combination with another drug ribavirin, points to a cure for hepatitis C.

The study reviewed 997 patients, either mono-infected with chronic HCV or co-infected HCV and HIV, who achieved a sustained viral response (SVR) following treatment with either Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a) monotherapy or combination therapy with Pegasys and ribavirin.

After successful treatment, researchers monitored serum levels of HCV once a year for an average of 4.1 years (range 0.4 to 7 years). Of the 997 patients, 989 maintained undetectable levels of HCV. The remaining eight patients tested positive for HCV at an average of two years following treatment completion.

This [they say] validates the use of the word "cure" when describing hepatitis C treatment as successful treatment is defined as having undetectable hepatitis C virus in the blood six months following treatment.


Adapted from this Science Daily article
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FYI - this data showing apparent cures with Pegasys may be new, but the treatment itself is not. Pegasys was first approved as a monotherapy for HepC in October, 2002. Combo therapy with ribavirin was added to the label in December, 2002.

This is actually a very old result and a poor interpretation of the data.

In reality 99% of patients who have a viral reduction in response to interferon therapy show long term remission after several years. However, only 50% of patients show this viral response.

So, basically they're saying of the 50% of patients that respond to therapy, nearly 100% clear the virus.

See this NEJM article

Do you think that we will have a 100% cure on the next 10 years for Hepatitis C,