RNAi and miRNA-based antiviral strategies hold great promise for the future. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of current developments of therapeutic targets of RNAi, liver-targeted delivery systems and the potential applications of miRNAs in treatment of hepatitis C infection.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22190521

Here we will review recent advances in the relationship between HCV infection and miRNAs, showing that some of them emerge in publications as challengers against the supremacy of miR-122.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3489824/

Together with the improvement of gene delivery technology and the discovery of the critical role of miRNA in HCV infection, RNAi and miRNA-based antiviral strategies hold great promise for the future.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19456206

This is from one of the Bio-Pharma companies also starting clinical trials on therapies based on RNAi thechnology:

http://www.benitec.com/documents/DukeHepC.pdf

Here's another article on the type of RNAi therapy that's being developed by Benitec:

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Australias-Benitec-Biopharma-purchase-Tacere-3207213.S.174428621

Finally here's a link to many related articles on both MiRNA & RNAi based therapy:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?LinkName=pubmed_pubmed&from_uid=22190521

Very exciting indeed!!! Enjoy the read!

Respectfully,
Henry

Are we actually on the cusp of a cure soon? I noticed date of first article 2011.

* I watched the video and read only three of the articles... My mind really can't focus today for some reason... Thanks, jp

Here's the study on "Miravirsen" in more detail:

http://www.natap.org/2011/AASLD/AASLD_106.htm

Btw, It's NOT a "one shot cure" that was initially touted as being because in the phase 2a study, they gave the participants 5 subcutaneous injections over a 29 day period...

Developed using Santaris Pharma A/S proprietary Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) Drug Platform, miravirsen is an inhibitor of miR-122, a liver specific microRNA that the Hepatitis C virus requires for replication.

Miravirsen is designed to recognize and sequester miR-122, making it unavailable to the Hepatitis C virus. As a result, the replication of the virus is effectively inhibited and the level of Hepatitis C virus is profoundly reduced.

None the less, It's very exciting and I'll quote from the study:

"-Due to its unique mechanism of action in targeting miR-122, miravirsen has the potential to change the way Hepatitis C is treated, said Stefan Zeuzem, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Department of Medicine at the JW Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany and Lead Clinical Investigator of the trial. -Miravirsen has the potential to be used as the central backbone treatment in combination with direct acting anti-viral agents as part of an interferon-free, infrequent dosing regimen."

"We are excited to show that miravirsen, the first microRNA-targeted drug to be given to patients, provides long-lasting suppression of HCV RNA, has a high barrier to viral resistance and a favorable tolerability profile." said Michael R. Hodges, MD, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Santaris Pharma A/S. "Miravirsen has a low propensity for drug interactions, and is ideally placed to be used in combination with direct acting anti-viral agents to limit the selection of resistant variants, prevent viral break through, and improve overall cure rates in patients with all types of HCV genotypes."

The news just keeps getting better and better just as there are now more potential options than ever, and all because they (Big Pharma) finally realized the potential for some big-time money to be made !!!

Respectfully,
Henry

Oh, Henry.. Thank you. Your third paragraph explained what I was confused about. miravirsen's ability to inhibit replication ..used.along with other antiviral meds ( with fewer interactions) this DOES indeed sound very promising. For all genos! WOW.

News looks brighter everyday! Cheers. Peeps

Here's the compound summary for "Miravirsen"

http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=56843415

Here's an even more detailed link to this Proof of Concept study of Miravirsen as presented to the AASLD in 2011:

http://www.natap.org/2011/AASLD/AASLD_105.htm

Here's an article from April 19th, 2012:

http://hepatitiscnewdrugs.blogspot.com/2012/04/easl-final-phase-2a-study-results-for.html

Here's the latest from Santaris Pharma - the company that has developed this drug:

http://www.santaris.com/news/2013/03/27/research-published-new-england-journal-medicine-demonstrates-marked-and-long-lasting

And here it is in a .pdf:

http://www.santaris.com/sites/default/files/Santaris%20Pharma%20NEJM%20press%20release_3-21-13%20FINAL.pdf

Respectfully,
Henry

Here's some more...

This one is from NIH (National Institutes of Health):

http://oba.od.nih.gov/oba/RAC/meetings/Dec2011/14_%20Hodges.pdf

This one is from HIVandHepatitis.com:

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hepatitis-c/hepatitis-c-topics/hcv-treatment/3576-easl-microrna-miravirsen-looks-safe-and-effective-for-genotype-1-hepatitis-c

This one is from NATAP from April 18th - 22nd, 2012:

http://www.natap.org/2012/EASL/EASL_72.htm

I'll post more if it's relevant.

Respectfully,
Henry

BUMP!!!

This article (from May 2012) on trial results has subjects taking shots of miravirsen along with interferon/ribavirin after several weeks.

Out of 36 patients, only 4 of the 9 that took highest dose of miavirsen dose went undetectable. It looks like virus returned after discontinuing the medication.

This Tx and RNAi is still far off. If you can afford to wait for several years, then it may be the one to wait for.

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hepatitis-c/hepatitis-c-topics/hcv-treatment/3576-easl-microrna-miravirsen-looks-safe-and-effective-for-genotype-1-hepatitis-c

Hepcat

The doses that were given were not the same and this drug trial was not to test with interferon/Riba...

"Participants were randomly allocated into 4 treatment arms. Three groups received once-weekly subcutaneous injections of miravirsen at doses of 3 mg/kg, 5mg/kg, or 7 mg/kg for 4 weeks.

The 3 mg/kg group was eligible to start pegylated interferon/ribavirin 3 weeks after the last dose of miravirsen, while the 5 mg/kg and 7 mg/kg groups could do so 6 weeks after the last dose. The control arm received pegylated interferon/ribavirin alone. Follow-up continued through week 18."

This one was a a proof of concept trial! not one that had a goal to achieve SVR and the Soc was optional and @ the discretion of the investigator except for the control arm... *The doses were only expected to reach hepatic exposure required for antiviral activity.

Further trials are planned to test miravirsen in people with all HCV genotypes, using longer durations, and in combination with direct-acting antivirals.

Here's the study in detail and if you look @ the study flow chart SPC3649-203, you will notice that not all of the patients were put on SOC 3-6 weeks after last dose:

http://www.natap.org/2012/EASL/EASL_72.htm

Let's face the facts... DAA's will not work for everyone alone the different combo's may achieve a very high percentage of SVR... However, this tool/weapon is something that can be used in combination with DAA's to achieve SVR regardless of what type of mutations may pop up from DAA's alone... In other words, Insurance!

Since they're already starting clinical trials on humans already, I don't think it will take so long for this therapy to be approved for use either as monotherapy or in combination with DAA's

Respectfully,
Henry

GS-7977 (Sofosbuvir) has been in phase III trials for two years and will be released (if all goes well) late this year or early next. RNAi is in Phase I & II trials now. It will take years to get through Phase II and go on to Phase III and to FDA approval. I think 5 years is a pretty safe bet.

Note though that I think this is the future for HCV Tx but we should be realistic as to when it will be available for humans on a large scale basis. Many hurdles have to be jumped but in the end, this is probably the holy grail, for HCV and other diseases.

As technology advances so does our medicines. Good for everyone.

HC

I'll bet you it takes less time than that!
Do you want to wager? I'm down!

Respectfully,
Henry