Finding strengths—and weaknesses—in hepatitis C's armor

Using a specially selected library of different hepatitis C viruses, a team of researchers led by Johns Hopkins scientists has identified tiny differences in the pathogens' outer shell proteins that underpin their resistance to antibodies. The findings, reported in the January 2015 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, suggest a reason why some patients' immune systems can't fend off hepatitis C infections, and they reveal distinct challenges for those trying to craft a successful vaccine to prevent them. Due to concerns about the rising costs of newly available hepatitis C drugs, researchers are looking to a vaccine as a more viable and less costly option.

The systems of some people who become infected with the liver-ravaging hepatitis C virus launch a robust immune attack, producing antibodies that attach to a broad array of the germs with different genetic makeups. About one-third of these individuals successfully clear the pathogen from their bodies. However, says Justin Bailey, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, no single antibody has been found that can neutralize all strains of hepatitis C virus.

To better understand how hepatitis C viruses avoid even the most broadly neutralizing antibodies, Bailey; Stuart C. Ray, M.D., professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and colleagues tested the power of 18 antibodies known to broadly attack the virus against a library of 19 viral strains that make up about 94 percent of the genetic variability of hepatitis C viruses in the most common genetic group, called genotype 1.

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India: Natco to launch Hepatitis C drug in India soon

Natco Pharma plans to launch the generic version of Sovaldi, the blockbuster drug used to treat chronic Hepatitis C in India soon. Sovaldi is made by U.S. pharma major Gilead Sciences, and Natco recently entered into a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Gilead to make and sell generic versions of Sovaldi in 91 developing countries.

The company, on Monday, launched the generic version of Sovaldi in Nepal under the brand Hepcinat. The product is priced at Rs.19,900 (US $316.68) per bottle of 28 tablets in Nepal, and covers the treatment duration of three months for a patient.

“We will be launching the drug in the next few weeks in India, and are awaiting approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI),” M. Adinarayana, Vice-President, Legal & Corporate Affairs, Natco Pharma, told this correspondent.

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Hepatitis C on the rise in the Northland; concerns focused on baby boomers and people younger than 30

Eight doesn’t seem like a lot, but eight cases of hepatitis C virus in Duluth caught the attention of state health officials.

“Duluth actually is an area we’ve been looking at for a little while,” said Kristin Sweet, hepatitis unit supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Health.

Nationwide, officials have noticed a rise in the potentially dangerous, chronic liver disease. The focus is on two groups: baby boomers, some of whom may have had the virus for years without knowing it; and people younger than 30, a group whose size seems to be increasing along with the recent increase in heroin use.

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Sofosbuvir/ledipasvir raises some antiretroviral levels in HIV/HCV coinfected people

HIV/HCV coinfected people who take sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (Harvoni) to treat hepatitis C along with boosted protease inhibitor antiretroviral regimens may experience changes in drugs levels, but these are mostly not considered clinically relevant, according to a drug-drug interaction study presented at the 2015 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) last month in Seattle. However, data on the safety and efficacy of combining sofosbuvir/ledipasvir with boosted protease inhibitors during treatment are lacking, and increased tenofovir exposure may be a concern.

The advent of interferon-free direct-acting antiviral regimens has brought about a revolution in treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, including for patients who have traditionally been considered 'difficult to treat', such as those with HIV/HCV coinfection. Clinical trials have seen cure rates for coinfected people equal to those for patients with HCV alone, and current treatment guidelines and product labels indicate that HIV-positive patients can be treated with the same recommended regimens as HIV-negative ones, taking into account potential interactions with antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Polina German of Gilead Sciences reported findings from a phase 1 study to evaluate interactions between sofosbuvir/ledipasvir and ART regimens containing ritonavir-boosted atazanavir (Reyataz) or darunavir (Prezista) plus tenofovir/emtricitabine (Truvada) in healthy HIV-negative volunteers.

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Nepal: Natco Pharma up 4%, launches hepatitis C drug in Nepal

Shares of Natco Pharma gained 4.4 percent intraday on Monday on launching the first generic version of sofosbuvir in Nepal.

Sofosbuvir is a medicine used for chronic hepatitis C infection and sold globally by Gilead Sciences Inc., under its brand Sovaldi.

Natco priced its generic medicine at an MRP of Rs 19,900 for a bottle of 28 tablets in Nepal. "Natco markets generic sofosbuvir under its brand HEPCINAT. Natco hopes to launch HEPCINAT in India soon, subject to approval from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)," said the company in its filing to the exchange.

Read more at: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/buzzing-stocks/natco-pharma4-launches-hepatitis-c-drugnepal_1323547.html?utm_source=ref_article

Scotland: Scots patients first in UK to hepatitis C ‘cure’

HEPATITIS C sufferers in Scotland are the first patients in the UK to be given access to a new treatment that cures up to 99 per cent of cases in eight or 12 weeks.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted for use Harvoni for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C which affects one in every 100 people in Scotland and causes more than 20 per cent of all liver transplants.

Approximately 50,000 people in Scotland are infected with hepatitis C, which can cause liver cancer or liver failure – equivalent to around 1 per cent of the Scottish population.

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Weekly Special Topic: Support Group Handbook & Lessons

Support Group Handbook & Lessons

Emotional and informational support are extrmely important for people with hepatitis C. If you are interested in starting or attending a support group in your area, then check out our recently updated Support Group Handbook and Support Group Lessons:

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