Hepatitis News:
July 2007
Drug Shows Promise In Treating Liver Cancer
" A new
drug looks poised to become the first effective treatment for liver
cancer, one of the most common and deadliest cancers in the world whose
incidence has been rising in the United States, doctors here said Sunday.
In a large clinical trial, the drug, called Nexavar, extended the lives of
patients by almost three months, or 44 percent."
Launch of Several Novel Therapies Will Drive Dramatic
Near-Term Growth in the Hepatitis C Virus Drug Market
WALTHAM, Mass., June 5 - "Decision Resources, one
of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and
healthcare issues, finds that the drug market to treat the hepatitis C
virus will experience dramatic growth through 2011 as the launch of
several novel therapies, beginning in 2009, significantly alters the
standard of care."
XTL Provides Update On Phase I Clinical Trial Of XTL-2125
VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, June 6 - "XTL
Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. announced today that it has completed the analysis
of results from a Phase I clinical trial with XTL-2125 in patients with
chronic Hepatitis C. This Phase I trial was a placebo controlled,
randomized, dose escalating study, which evaluated the safety,
tolerability and antiviral activity of single and multiple doses of
XTL-2125."
When HIV and Liver Disease Co-Exist
"Since successful antiretroviral therapies have made
HIV a treatable condition, more HIV patients who are also infected with
hepatitis B or C are experiencing the progression of their liver disease.
In the face of this novel challenge, experts in the field convened to
share information and opinions on the management of such patients. The
conference discussions are summarized in June issue of Hepatology,
a journal published by John Wiley & Sons on behalf of the American
Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)."
Human Genome Sciences Announces Positive Final Results Of
Phase 2b Trial of Albuferon
ROCKVILLE, Md., June 07, 2007 - "Human Genome
Sciences, Inc. today announced the top-line final results of a Phase 2b
clinical trial of Albuferon(R) (albinterferon alfa-2b) in combination with
ribavirin in treatment-naive patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C.
The Company expects to make a full presentation of the final results at an
appropriate scientific meeting later in 2007."
Only 25% Of HIV-Positive Patients With Acute HCV Accepting
HCV Therapy [UK]
"Only a quarter of HIV-positive individuals diagnosed
with acute hepatitis C infection are accepting anti-hepatitis C therapy,
according to data from one of the UK's leading sexual health clinics
presented to the Third International Workshop on HIV and Hepatitis
Coinfection in Paris on June 7th."
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Reports 2007 Pipeline Progress
CAMBRIDGE, Mass--Jun 12, 2007 - "Vertex
Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today detailed recent progress in its
clinical pipeline in conjunction with its participation at the Goldman
Sachs 28th Annual Healthcare Conference. A live webcast of Vertex's
presentation will be available on Vertex's website, www.vrtx.com,
beginning at 2:00 p.m. PDT (5:00 p.m. EDT) on June 13, 2007."
ViroPharma Announces Completion of Enrollment in 500mg BID
Arms Of HCV-796 Phase 2 Study
EXTON, Pa., June 2007 - "ViroPharma Incorporated
today announced that patient enrollment has been completed in the 500mg
BID arms of the ongoing Phase 2 study in hepatitis C patients with
HCV-796, a unique orally dosed non nucleoside hepatitis C viral polymerase
inhibitor that interferes with the replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV).
The Phase 2 study is being conducted with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a
division of Wyeth, ViroPharma's partner in development of HCV-796."
Valopicitabine Combined with Standard of Care Cleared
Hepatitis C Virus in 72% of Patients Who Completed 12 Weeks of Treatment
in a Phase II Trial
CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA | June 12, 2007 | "Idenix
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced results from a phase II study
designed to evaluate triple combination therapy, consisting of
valopicitabine (NM283), Idenix's lead drug candidate for the treatment of
hepatitis C, pegylated interferon and ribavirin compared to pegylated
interferon and ribavirin, the current standard of care, in patients
infected with the genotype-1 strain of the hepatitis C virus (HCV)."
Hep C Alert: 3 Get Bug From 1 Doctor
"Authorities are contacting 4,500 patients of a
doctor found to have infected at least three people with hepatitis C, city
health officials said yesterday. The unidentified anesthesiologist, who
practices at 10 outpatient locations in Manhattan, is not working while
officials investigate how the doctor transmitted the virus."
clinical trials, cohort studies, and pilot studies
Randomized placebo controlled phase I/II trial of
alpha-galactosylceramide
for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Veldt BJ, et al. J Hepatol.
2007 Jun 6; [Epub ahead of print]
Anemia associated with pegylated interferon-alpha2a and
alpha2b therapy in hemodialysis patients. Espinosa M, et. al. Clin
Nephrol. 2007 Jun;67(6):366-73.
Ribavirin Up-Regulates the Activity of Double-Stranded
RNA-Activated Protein Kinase and Enhances the Action of Interferon- alpha
against Hepatitis C Virus. Liu WL, et. al. J Infect Dis. 2007 Aug
1;196(3):425-34. Epub 2007 Jun 25.
Association of Hepatitis C Seropositivity With Increased
Risk for Developing End-stage Renal Disease. Tsui JI, et. al., Arch
Intern Med. 2007 Jun 25;167(12):1271-6.
seropositivity were at increased risk for developing ESRD
treated with dialysis or transplantation.
Hepatic steatosis is associated with increased frequency
of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C-related cirrhosis.
Pekow JR, et. al. Cancer. 2007 Jun 15;109(12):2490-6.
Incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma in the U.S.
and Denmark: Recent trends. Jepsen P et. al.,
Int J Cancer. 2007 Jun 7; [Epub ahead of print]
Chronic hepatitis C infection and sicca syndrome: a clear
association with HLA DQB1*02. Smyth CM, et. al.
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007 Jun;19(6):493-8.
Hepatic steatosis correlates with the postoperative
recurrence of hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.
Takuma Y et. al., Liver Int. 2007 Jun;27(5):620-6.
Hepatitis C viremia increases the association with type 2
diabetes mellitus in a hepatitis B and C endemic area: an epidemiological
link with virological implication. Huang JF et.
al., Am J Gastroenterol. 2007 Jun;102(6):1237-43.
The antinuclear antibody is associated with a more
advanced fibrosis and lower RNA levels of hepatitis C virus in chronic
hepatitis C patients. Hsieh MY et. al., J Clin
Pathol. 2007 Jun 1; [Epub ahead of print]
Predictive value of rapid virological response and early
virological response on sustained virological response in HCV patients
treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin.
Yu JW, et. al. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007 Jun;22(6):832-6.
Potent induction therapy with interferon and ribavirin
combination therapy does not achieve a higher sustained virological
response rate in chronic hepatitis C with genotype 1b and high hepatitis C
virus RNA level. Enomoto S et al., Hepatol Res.
2007 Jun 15; [Epub ahead of print]
Double filtration plasmapheresis and interferon
combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1 and
high viral load. Fujiwara K et al., Hepatol Res. 2007 Jun 15; [Epub
ahead of print]
Oral branched-chain amino acid supplementation improves
the oxidized/reduced albumin ratio in patients with liver cirrhosis.
Fukushima H et al., Hepatol Res. 2007 Jun 15; [Epub ahead of print]
Evaluation of long-term biochemical responses to
combination therapy of interferon plus ribavirin in those infected with
hepatitis C virus genotype 1b and high baseline viral load.
Sezaki H et al., Hepatol Res. 2007 Jun 15; [Epub ahead of print]
A large-scale,
multicentre, double-blind trial of
ursodeoxycholic acid in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Omata M,
et. al., Gut. 2007 Jun 25; [Epub ahead of print]
Early virological response in children with chronic
hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.
Kowala-Piaskowska A et. al., Infection. 2007 Jun;35(3):175-9.
Incidence and characterization of serum transaminases
elevations in pegylated interferon and ribavirin treated patients with
chronic hepatitis C. Thurairajah PH et. al., Aliment Pharmacol Ther.
2007 Jun 1;25(11):1293-300.
Studies of Therapy with Thymosin {alpha}-1 in combination
with Pegylated Interferon {alpha}-2a and Ribavirin in Nonresponder
Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C. Camerini R, et. al. Ann N Y Acad
Sci. 2007 Jun 28; [Epub ahead of print]
Efficacy and anticarcinogenic activity of interferon for
hepatitis C virus-related compensated cirrhosis in patients with genotype
1b low viral load or genotype 2. Hasegawa E, et. al. Hepatol Res. 2007
Jun 25; [Epub ahead of print]
Response prediction and treatment tailoring in chronic
hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection. Lindh M, et. al. J Clin
Microbiol. 2007 Jun 20; [Epub ahead of print]
Hepatitis C Virus Dynamics during Natural Infection Are
Associated with Long-Term Histological Outcome of Chronic Hepatitis C
Disease. Sullivan DG et. al., J Infect Dis. 2007 Jul 15;196(2):239-48.
Epub 2007 Jun 7.
Treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 with
peginterferon, ribavirin, and epoetin alpha.
Shiffman ML et. al., Hepatology. 2007 Jun 8; [Epub ahead of print]
Multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of peginterferon alfa-2b in
patients with renal insufficiency. Gupta SK et. al., Br J Clin
Pharmacol. 2007 Jun 6; [Epub ahead of print]
basic and applied science, pre-clinical studies
HFE C282Y gene variant is a risk factor for the
progression to decompensated liver disease in chronic viral hepatitis C
subjects in the Czech population. Pácal L et. al., Hepatol Res. 2007
Jun 15; [Epub ahead of print]
and its earlier onset in the subjects with chronic viral
hepatitis C in the Czech population.
Anti-hepatitis C virus activity of albinterferon alfa-2b
in cell culture. Liu C et. al., Hepatol Res. 2007 Jun 15; [Epub ahead
of print]
Modulation of RANTES expression by HCV core protein in
liver derived cell lines. Ruggieri A et. al., BMC Gastroenterol. 2007
Jun 12;7(1):21 [Epub ahead of print]
Hepatitis C virus RNA: Dinucleotide frequencies and
cleavage by RNase L. Washenberger CL, et al.
Virus Res. 2007 Jun 29; [Epub ahead of print]
A replicon-based shuttle vector system for assessing the
phenotype of HCV NS5B polymerase genes isolated from patient populations. Middleton
T, et al. J Virol Methods. 2007 Jun 28; [Epub ahead of print]
Sensitivity of hepatitis C virus to cyclosporine A depends
on nonstructural proteins NS5A and NS5B. Fernandes F, et. al.
Hepatology. 2007 Jun 28; [Epub ahead of print]
Antiviral effects of amantadine and iminosugar derivatives
against hepatitis C virus. Steinmann E, et al.
Hepatology. 2007 Jun 28; [Epub ahead of print]
Toll-like receptors 1 and 6 are involved in TLR2-mediated
macrophage activation by hepatitis C virus core and NS3 proteins.
Chang S, et. al. J Leukoc Biol. 2007 Jun 26; [Epub ahead of print]
A search for structurally similar cellular internal
ribosome entry sites. Baird SD, et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 2007 Jun 25;
[Epub ahead of print]
Expression and characterisation of a minimal HCV
glycoprotein E2 core domain that retains CD81 binding. McCaffrey K,
et. al. J Virol. 2007 Jun 20; [Epub ahead of print]
The C-terminus of hepatitis C virus NS4A encodes an
electrostatic switch that regulates NS5A hyperphosphorylation and viral
replication. Lindenbach BD, et. al. J Virol. 2007 Jun 20; [Epub ahead
of print]
Pharmacokinetics and enhanced PKR response in patients
with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2b and
ribavirin. Asahina Y et. al., J Viral Hepat. 2007
Jun;14(6):396-403.
Impaired ability of interferon-alpha-primed dendritic
cells to stimulate Th1-type CD4 T-cell response in chronic hepatitis C
virus infection. Miyatake H et. al., J Viral
Hepat. 2007 Jun;14(6):404-12.
Identification of host genes involved in hepatitis C virus
replication by small interfering RNA technology.
Ng TI et. al., Hepatology. 2007 Jun;45(6):1413-21.
Antiviral action of interferon-alpha against hepatitis C
virus replicon and its modulation by interferon-gamma and interleukin-8.
Jia Y et. al., J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007 Jun 12; [Epub ahead of print]
Hepatitis C Virus Nonstructural Protein 5A Modulates
TLR-MyD88-Dependent Signaling Pathway in the Macrophage Cell Lines.
Abe T et. al., J Virol. 2007 Jun 13; [Epub ahead of print]
Upregulation of PD-1 expression on circulating and
intrahepatic HCV-specific CD8+ T cells associated with reversible immune
dysfunction. Golden-Mason L et. al., J Virol.
2007 Jun 13; [Epub ahead of print]
Neutralizing antibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis
C infection treated with (Peg)-interferon/ribavirin.
Boo I et. al., J Clin Virol. 2007 Jun 12; [Epub ahead of
print]
Functional Interaction of Hepatitis C Virus NS5B with
Nucleolin GAR Domain. Kusakawa T et. al., J
Biochem (Tokyo). 2007 Jun;141(6):917-27.
Measurement of ribavirin and evaluation of its stability
in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV
detection. Loregian A et. al., J Chromatogr B
Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2007 Jun 2; [Epub ahead of print]
Toward the mechanism of dynamical couplings and
translocation in hepatitis C virus NS3 helicase using elastic network
model. Zheng W et. al., Proteins. 2007 Jun 1;67(4):886-96.
Inhibition of hepatitis C virus p7 membrane channels in a
liposome-based assay system. Stgelais C et. al., Antiviral Res. 2007
Jun 4; [Epub ahead of print]
Phenotypic and structural analyses of HCV NS3 protease
ARG155 variants: Sensitivity to telaprevir (VX-950) and interferon alpha.
Zhou Y et. al., J Biol Chem. 2007 Jun 6; [Epub ahead of print]
Protective effect of HLA-B57 on HCV genotype 2 infection
in a West African population. Chuang WC et. al., J Med Virol.
2007 Jun;79(6):724-33.
Decrease and dysfunction of dendritic cells correlate with
impaired hepatitis C virus-specific CD4+ T-cell proliferation in patients
with hepatitis C virus infection. Della Bella S
et. al., Immunology. 2007 Jun;121(2):283-92.
Serum levels of anti-NS4a and anti-NS5a predict treatment
response of patients with chronic hepatitis C. Desombere I et. al.,
J Med Virol. 2007 Jun;79(6):701-13.
hiv/hcv co-infection
Liver Fibrosis Stage and HCV Genotype Distribution in
HIV-HCV
Coinfected Patients with Persistently Normal Transaminases. Maida
I, et al. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2007 Jun;23(6):801-4.
Trends for genetic variation of Hepatitis C Virus
quasispecies in Human Immunodeficiency virus-1 coinfected patients.
López-Labrador FX, et. al. Virus Res. 2007 Jun 28; [Epub ahead of print]
Survival of HIV-infected injection drug users
(IDUs) in
the highly active antiretroviral therapy era, relative to sex- and
age-specific survival of HIV-uninfected IDUs.
Muga R, et.al. Clin Infect Dis. 2007 Aug 1;45(3):370-6. Epub 2007 Jun 19.
Pathogenesis of Hepatitis C Virus Coinfection in the
Brains of Patients Infected with HIV. Letendre S, et. al. J
Infect Dis. 2007 Aug 1;196(3):361-70. Epub 2007 Jun 15.
A Comparison of Risk Factors for
HCV-mono-infection,
HIV-mono-infection, and HCV/HIV-co-infection in a Community Setting.
Bollepalli S et. al, Dig Dis Sci. 2007 Jun 12; [Epub ahead of print]
Prevalence of and factors associated with hepatic
steatosis in patients coinfected with hepatitis C virus and HIV: Agence
Nationale pour la Recherche contre le SIDA et les hépatites virales CO3
Aquitaine Cohort. Neau D et. al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2007
Jun 1;45(2):168-73.
Clearance of hepatitis C virus in HIV-infected patients
with multiple chronic viral hepatitis.
Martín-Carbonero L et. al., J Viral Hepat. 2007 Jun;14(6):392-5.
Critical role of ribavirin for the achievement of early
virological response to HCV therapy in HCV/HIV-coinfected patients.
Ramos B et. al., J Viral Hepat. 2007 Jun;14(6):387-91.
Prevalence of risk factors for hepatitis C virus in
HIV-infected and HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients.
Bollepalli S et. al., Sex Transm Dis. 2007 Jun;34(6):367-70.
complementary and alternative therapies
Review of clinical trials evaluating safety and efficacy
of milk thistle (Silybum marianum [L.] Gaertn.). Tamayo C, Integr
Cancer Ther. 2007 Jun;6(2):146-57.
The chemical composition and biological activity of clove
essential oil, Eugenia caryophyllata (Syzigium aromaticum L. Myrtaceae):
a short review. Chaieb K et. al., Phytother Res. 2007
Jun;21(6):501-6.
miscellaneous works
Hepatitis C videoconferencing: the impact on continuing
medical education for rural healthcare providers. Rossaro
L, et al. Telemed J E Health. 2007 Jun;13(3):269-78.
Prisons, hepatitis C and harm minimisation.
Levy MH et. al., Med J Aust. 2007 Jun 18;186(12):647-9.
'I just keep thinking I haven't got it because I'm not
yellow': a qualitative study of the factors that influence the uptake of
Hepatitis C testing by prisoners. Khaw FM, BMC Public Health. 2007 Jun
7;7:98.
High incidence of hepatitis C virus reinfection within a
cohort of injecting drug users. Micallef JM, J
Viral Hepat. 2007 Jun;14(6):413-8.
Comparison of The Performance Characteristics of Three
Real-Time RT-PCR Test Systems For Detection And Quantification Of
Hepatitis C Virus. Sábato MF et. al., J Clin Microbiol. 2007 Jun 13;
[Epub ahead of print]
Determinants of antiviral treatment initiation in a
hepatitis C-infected population benefiting from universal health care
coverage. Moirand R et. al., Can J Gastroenterol.
2007 Jun;21(6):355-61.
Trends in Prevalence of HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis C,
Hepatitis B, and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex With Men:
Results of 3 Consecutive Respondent-Driven Sampling Surveys in Beijing,
2004 Through 2006. Ma X et. al., J Acquir Immune
Defic Syndr. 2007 Jun 14; [Epub ahead of print]
Increase in HCV Incidence among Men Who Have Sex with Men
in Amsterdam Most Likely Caused by Sexual Transmission.
van de Laar TJ et. al., J Infect Dis. 2007 Jul 15;196(2):230-8. Epub 2007
Jun 11.
|
