Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
HCV CLINICAL TRIALS - 2007 UPDATE -
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/search?term=(+hcv+)+%5BALL-FIELDS%5D&sugg=2.2
- Here is one I have pulled out - of about 150 or so' trials taking place -
For Geno's 2 7 3 ...this may be of interest *
....."Low-Dose Peginterferon and Ribavirin to Treat Chronic Hepatitis C in Patients Infected With HCV Genotype 2 or 3"...
This study is currently recruiting patients.
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00056 862?order=22
- Purpose -
..."This study will examine the effectiveness of low-dose peginterferon and ribavirin therapy for certain patients with chronic hepatitis C-a liver disease that, in some patients, can progress to cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, and liver failure.
This disease is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
There are six major strains, or genotypes, of HCV. Patients infected with genotypes 2 and 3 respond better and more quickly to the standard treatment for this disease-high-dose peginterferon and ribavirin for 24 to 48 weeks-
than do patients with other genotypes.
Although the side effects of these medications are more severe at higher doses, patients with all genotypes, including genotypes 2 and 3, currently receive the same standard treatment.
This study will examine whether patients infected with HCV genotypes 2 and 3 will respond equally well, and with fewer side effects, to lower doses of peginterferon and ribavirin given for a shorter period of time.
Patients 18 years of age and older with chronic hepatitis C genotype 2 or 3 may be eligible for this study.
Each candidate will be screened with a medical history, physical examination, blood tests, and liver ultrasound.
Patients who have not had a chest x-ray or electrocardiogram within a year of entering the study will have those tests as well.
Additional tests, such as eye examination, hearing test, stress test, or others, will be done if deemed necessary because of the individual's particular medical condition or risk factors for side effects of therapy".....
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/search?term=(+hcv+)+%5BALL-FIELDS%5D&sugg=2.2
- Here is one I have pulled out - of about 150 or so' trials taking place -
For Geno's 2 7 3 ...this may be of interest *
....."Low-Dose Peginterferon and Ribavirin to Treat Chronic Hepatitis C in Patients Infected With HCV Genotype 2 or 3"...
This study is currently recruiting patients.
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00056 862?order=22
- Purpose -
..."This study will examine the effectiveness of low-dose peginterferon and ribavirin therapy for certain patients with chronic hepatitis C-a liver disease that, in some patients, can progress to cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, and liver failure.
This disease is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
There are six major strains, or genotypes, of HCV. Patients infected with genotypes 2 and 3 respond better and more quickly to the standard treatment for this disease-high-dose peginterferon and ribavirin for 24 to 48 weeks-
than do patients with other genotypes.
Although the side effects of these medications are more severe at higher doses, patients with all genotypes, including genotypes 2 and 3, currently receive the same standard treatment.
This study will examine whether patients infected with HCV genotypes 2 and 3 will respond equally well, and with fewer side effects, to lower doses of peginterferon and ribavirin given for a shorter period of time.
Patients 18 years of age and older with chronic hepatitis C genotype 2 or 3 may be eligible for this study.
Each candidate will be screened with a medical history, physical examination, blood tests, and liver ultrasound.
Patients who have not had a chest x-ray or electrocardiogram within a year of entering the study will have those tests as well.
Additional tests, such as eye examination, hearing test, stress test, or others, will be done if deemed necessary because of the individual's particular medical condition or risk factors for side effects of therapy".....
Hello Heppie,
Welcome to Daily Strenght, I had wrote to you this am, what a coincidence.
Here's what I have found.
VX-950
VX-950 is a hepatitis C protease inhibitor developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals that has shown strong antiviral activity in small studies, both alone and in combination with pegylated interferon.
In early 2006, Vertex reported that all 12 participants given VX-950 with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for 28 days achieved undetectable viral loads at the end of treatment.
They all had hepatitis C genotype 1, and had not taken any prior hepatitis C therapy.
While the study participants did not achieve a sustained virologic response (indicating that longer courses of treatment would be necessary to clear hepatitis C), Vertex predicts that the potency of VX-950 may shorten hepatitis C treatment to as little as three months, compared to the current 12 months that is standard for people with genotype 1.
A three-month study comparing VX-950 and pegylated interferon (with or without ribavirin) to pegylated interferon and ribavirin in people who have not taken HCV treatment before is planned for 2006, and Vertex will likely launch an additional phase II study in non-responders.
No significant side effects for VX-950 have emerged in the small, short-term studies reported to date; however, the current formulation of VX-950 requires dosing three times a day, and poor adherence poses the risk of emergence of drug-resistant virus.
Vertex has set an aggressive timetable for completing the clinical trials necessary for FDA approval, and plans to submit VX-950 to the FDA in 2008.
The company has not announced any timetable for starting a coinfection study.
ps: I am type 1a, and my viral load before starting tx, was very low (665,000), and did the peg/riba from Schering, and I am possitive that if I was tested at week 4 I would have already been SVR.
I was on 1200mgs of riba right from the start and kepted it up like this all thru my 48 weeks journey. But one shot of pegetron a week.
See this new treatment says 3 x the peg daily. mmm
See when I was first entertainned by these meds, the professionals told me that once a patient is cleared, like lets say week 12, they must do 36 more weeks on treatment in order to substain no viral load. (Genotype 1a)
thanks Heppie, for bringing this interesting study this morning.
Mckenzie
One day at the time
Besides it would give a break to you body since it's schedual for next year.
This is my opinion only, see your gi with this info.