Hope for hep C cure
A new study presented at the European Association for the Study of the Liver in Berlin this month has renewed hopes for a possible cure for the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
The study — conducted by mostly US researchers — showed two new drugs, in combination with standard-of-care hep C treatment, were able to deliver positive results for those suffering chronic hep C who had previously not responded to standard treatment.
In the study, four of 11 patients treated with the two drugs experienced a long-term positive response, without the need for a more toxic drug regime, www.hivandhepatitis.com reports.
The results mean hep C sufferers may avoid the side effects of drugs interferon and ribavirin.
Most side effects of the new direct-acting drugs were said to be moderate.
Researchers said the results show the two new drugs could change the course of hep C treatment in the future.
