ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Wednesday announced a reduction in the price of Sovaldi — the ‘breakthrough drug’ for Hepatitis C. State minister for health Saira Tarar announced that the current price of Rs55,000 has been slashed and the drug would now be available at Rs32,300 per bottle, according to a press release. Tarar said the measure will benefit over 10 million Hepatitis C patients across Pakistan and the ministry will ensure that an adequate quantity of the drug is available within six weeks.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 5th, 2015.
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Thursday, March 5, 2015
Hope In Hepatitis C Pandemic
Hepatitis C is a worldwide issue with an estimated three million infected people in the United States alone. Treatment for hepatitis C is difficult, with sometimes severe side effects, and medications are expensive, limiting treatment to those who can afford it. However, recent advances in clinical trials and changes by drug manufacturers could change the way hepatitis C is treated in the near future.
Read more of this interesting overview at http://www.inquisitr.com/1886276/hope-in-hepatitis-c-pandemic/#HTpRj4rVVYAZTyp3.99
Snapshots—Lucinda K. Porter, RN
Article: Systematic Review: Patient-Reported Outcomes in Chronic Hepatitis C - The Impact of Liver Disease and New Treatment Regimens - Z. Younossi and L. Henry
Source: Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics January 23, 2015
Source: Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics January 23, 2015
How do we measure successful hepatitis C (HCV) treatment? Is it strictly by clinical trial data showing how safe and effective a treatment is? Alternatively, is it by patients’ experiences, outcomes, and overall quality of life? This ambitious study examined patients’ experiences of living with hepatitis C and its treatment.
They found that current data support the fact that HCV patients suffer substantially. This burden was much worse during interferon/ribavirin treatment and worse yet if that treatment used telaprevir or boceprevir. The newer interferon-free treatments showed that patients reported improvements in quality of life and productivity; and even bigger improvements with ribavirin-free regimens. Patients who reported easier treatment were more likely to complete therapy and respond to it.
This study also looked at fibrosis stage, finding significant fatigue and impairment among those with early stage liver disease. Patients with early fibrosis reported significant benefits, similar to the gains achieved by those with advanced fibrosis.
The Bottom Line: Using fibrosis stage to limit the cost of HCV treatment does not take in to account the other costs of HCV, such as its effect on work productivity, quality of life, etc.
Editorial Comment: This study validates what patients have been reporting for decades—that having hepatitis C is hard, and that the newer treatments offer hope for improved quality of life. Denying access to treatment violates human rights.
Article: Seven Years of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection in an HIV-Infected Man without Detectable Antibodies – Joost Vanhommerig, et al.
Source: AIDS 2015, Vol 29 No 3
Source: AIDS 2015, Vol 29 No 3
After an HCV exposure, about half of those exposed will form antibodies in 5 to 10 weeks.
It averages 10 to 13 weeks for HCV antibodies to be detectable in HCV/HIV-coinfected men who have sex with men (MSM). There have been reports of some HIV-infected individuals for whom HCV antibodies didn’t show up for more than 3 years. In this case study, an HIV-positive man had positive HCV viral load results for 7 years but never had a positive HCV-antibody test result.
The Bottom Line: These researchers recommend HCV viral load testing rather than relying solely on antibody testing for HIV-infected MSM.
Editorial Comment: I am both fascinated and irritated when there are rare exceptions in medical science, but they do exist.
Article: Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Risk Factor for Parkinson’s Disease – Wendy Wu, et al.
Source: Journal of Viral Hepatitis January 21, 2015
Source: Journal of Viral Hepatitis January 21, 2015
Recent evidence indicates that HCV may invade the central nervous system. In rat studies, researchers observed that HCV and Parkinson’s disease both overexpress inflammatory biomarkers. Analyzing data from 62,276 subjects, researchers found similarities between HCV and Parkinson’s.
The Bottom Line: This study demonstrated an association between HCV infection and Parkinson’s and confirms the observation of dopaminergic toxicity of HCV similar to that found in rats.
Editorial Comment: As horrifying as these results are, perhaps this research will shed light on the nature of “brain fog,” which is experienced by so many HCV patients.
Article: Hepatitis A hospitalizations in the United States, 2002-2011 – Melissa Collier, et al.
Source: Hepatology February 2015
Source: Hepatology February 2015
This study reviewed hospitalization rates for hepatitis A from 2002-2011. The number of hepatitis A-related hospitalizations hasdeclined significantly, but patients who are hospitalized for hepatitis A are older and more likely to have liver diseases and other comorbid medical conditions.
The Bottom Line: Immunization could prevent hepatitis A infection and ensuing hospitalizations.
Editorial Comment: Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for hepatitis C patients.
http://hcvadvocate.org/news/newsLetter/2015/advocate0315.html#4
NVHR Webinar: Navigating Hepatitis C: What Patients Need To Know
NVHR Webinar:
Navigating Hepatitis C: What Patients Need To Know
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
2 pm Eastern
Join us for our upcoming webinar Navigating Hepatitis C: What Patients Need to Know. This webinar will cover the most important elements that patients need to know regarding screening, access to care, receiving and paying for treatment, and living with hepatitis C. Our speakers include Bruce Burkett of HepC Alliance, Lucinda Porter of the Hepatitis C Support Project and Hep Magazine; Robin Lord Smith of the Hepatitis C Association and Help-4-Hep (a program of The Support Partnership); and Ronni Marks of Hepatitis C Mentor & Support Group.
You can register for the webinar here. Space is limited.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Please also visit our newly redesigned Hepatitis C Baby Boomer Resources Page!
For more information about this webinar or the resource page, contact Tina Broder, Senior Program Manager.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Hepatitis C study for District residents
Unity Health Care announced a study to show how health care providers can treat Hepatitis C.
WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease, complications can lead to death. Affecting over 3 million people in the US, the disease is particularly dangerous because there are few noticeable symptoms early on.
Wednesday evening, Unity Health Care announced a study to show how health care providers can treat Hepatitis C.
Called the ASCEND study, 600 DC patients will be treated with Harvoni, a newly FDA approved medication. Unity Health Care is partnering with the National Institutes of Health, the University of Maryland, and Family and Medical Counseling Services Inc. to conduct the research.
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/2015/03/04/hepatitis-c-unity-heath/24395001/
WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease, complications can lead to death. Affecting over 3 million people in the US, the disease is particularly dangerous because there are few noticeable symptoms early on.
Wednesday evening, Unity Health Care announced a study to show how health care providers can treat Hepatitis C.
Called the ASCEND study, 600 DC patients will be treated with Harvoni, a newly FDA approved medication. Unity Health Care is partnering with the National Institutes of Health, the University of Maryland, and Family and Medical Counseling Services Inc. to conduct the research.
Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/2015/03/04/hepatitis-c-unity-heath/24395001/
Nursing Times-NHS-NICE gives backing to hepatitis C drug in latest draft guidance
“The marketing authorisation for ledipasvir-sofosbuvir recommends treatment for hepatitis C genotypes 1, 3 – in combination with ribavirin – and 4”.
“Genotypes 1 and 3 hepatitis C account for the majority of chronic hepatitis C cases in England (46% and 43%, respectively). Genotype 4 hepatitis C accounts for around 4% of cases”.
“Ledipasvir-sofosbuvir, manufactured by Gilead, is administered orally as a single tablet – with or without ribavirin – and works by inhibiting the replication of the hepatitis C virus. It prevents hepatitis C virus replication by inhibiting the NS5A and NS5B proteins”.
U.S.A-Programs Focus on Hepatitis C
“Chronic hepatitis C infection is a commonly silent disease that according to the Center of Disease Control affects an estimated 3.2 million Americans”.
“For primary care providers looking to address hepatitis, the University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Continuing Education Department holds a program 4-9:30 p.m. March 17 at Barker’s Island Inn and Convention Center in Superior”. “The Wisconsin Department of Health Services estimates 74,000 people in Wisconsin are infected; 50 percent of them baby boomers.
The Institute of Medicine reports that up to 75 percent of those infected are unaware they are infected. Yet, with appropriate care, hepatitis C can be a curable infection”.
Read more...
“For primary care providers looking to address hepatitis, the University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Continuing Education Department holds a program 4-9:30 p.m. March 17 at Barker’s Island Inn and Convention Center in Superior”. “The Wisconsin Department of Health Services estimates 74,000 people in Wisconsin are infected; 50 percent of them baby boomers.
The Institute of Medicine reports that up to 75 percent of those infected are unaware they are infected. Yet, with appropriate care, hepatitis C can be a curable infection”.
Read more...
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