Liver Disease News and Research

RSS

The liver is one of the largest solid organs of the body. It is located in the upper right part of the abdomen. Most of the organ lies under cover of the rib cage.

Benitec acquires Avocel to focus on rapid development of hepatitis C therapeutics

Benitec Ltd. today announced the acquisition of Avocel, Inc. of Sunnyvale, CA, a leading RNAi therapeutics company, and the establishment of its wholly-owned US subsidiary, Benitec, Inc. Through the acquisition, Benitec gains its first in-house advanced therapeutic development program using DNA-directed RNAi (ddRNAi) to target the Hepatitis C virus.

18 May 2004

Regional review boards improve liver transplant allocation

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) currently utilizes scores based on the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) or Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease (PELD) to prioritize patients waiting for liver transplants.

17 May 2004

Signs of liver disease also improve in conjunction with alterations to gut flora

Some cirrhotic patients develop brain dysfunction, called hepatic encephalopathy, which causes deficits in behavior, intelligence, consciousness and neuromuscular function.

14 May 2004

Screening for liver diseases benefits outweigh costs for some, but not all, conditions

Screening programs for liver diseases can detect asymptomatic conditions which might have better outcomes if diagnosed and treated earlier.

14 May 2004

Compound found in the peels of citrus fruit can potentially lower cholesterol more effectively than prescription drugs

A compound found in the peels of citrus fruit has the potential to lower cholesterol more effectively than some prescription drugs, and without side effects, according to a study by U.S. and Canadian researchers.

11 May 2004

Schering-Plough submits Japanese application for hepatitis C drug

Schering-Plough Corporation has announced that Schering-Plough K.K., the company's subsidiary in Japan, has submitted a New Drug Application (J-NDA) to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) seeking marketing approval for PEG-INTRON(R) (peginterferon alfa-2b) Powder for Injection for use in combination with REBETOL(R) (ribavirin) Capsules for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

22 Apr 2004

Study suggests that donor livers are not always distributed according to a patient's need

A new study suggests that donor livers are not always distributed according to a patient's need, but may be retained by some organ procurement organizations with smaller waiting lists and transplanted into less sick patients, according to a study in the April 21 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

20 Apr 2004

Preclinical data on Histamine's ability to prevent liver damage

These new results demonstrate the ability of histamine to prevent LPS-induced liver injury in a rodent model by showing efficacy when delivered in a manner mimicking oral administration.

19 Apr 2004

Hepatitis C wonder drug Ribasphere gets approval from FDA

The President and CEO of Three Rivers Pharmaceuticals, Donald J. Kerrish, RPh., stated, “The approval of Ribasphere™ marks a milestone in the treatment of HCV. Ribasphere™ is positioned to break down the economic barriers that have existed for the past decade in treating this chronic and potentially deadly disease.” Traditionally the cost of treatment for HCV can range from $20,000 – $25,000 annually. “Our aim is to bring affordable medicine to all individuals infected with this dreadful disease.” Mr. Kerrish continued.

8 Apr 2004

Alcohol screening can spot addiction

Have you ever felt like you needed a drink? If an occasional cocktail changes into a need, it could mean an alcohol problem. National Alcohol Screening Day is April 8. In cities and towns throughout the United States, screening programs will be offered to help people determine whether they exhibit drinking behaviors that could be signs of alcohol addiction.

7 Apr 2004

First Approval in Europe of Ezetimibe/Simvastatin for treatment of elevated cholesterol

Merck/Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals today announced the regulatory approval of INEGYTM (ezetimibe/simvastatin) in Germany for the treatment of elevated cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia). INEGY is the first product to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C or ‘bad’ cholesterol), along with diet and exercise, through dual inhibition by inhibiting cholesterol production in the liver and absorption in the intestine. The approval of INEGY in Germany represents the first approval in Europe for ezetimibe/simvastatin tablets and the first step in seeking marketing approval throughout the European Union (EU) under the EU’s mutual recognition procedure.

4 Apr 2004

Haemophilia Society President presents Hepatitis C (HCV) Facts to UK Government

Haemophilia Society President to challenge government for second time in Lords question on proposed Hepatitis C ex gratia payment scheme On Thursday 25 March, the first business in the House of Lords will be further questioning of Ministers by the Haemophilia Society’s President, Lord Morris of Manchester.

27 Mar 2004

Oregon Stem Cell Center Hunt for Human Disease Therapies

Oregon Health & Science University's fast-growing stem cell research program, which already has made significant strides in the hunt for human disease therapies, now has a place to call home.

23 Mar 2004

Alcohol Consumption Decreases Risk of Heart Disease in Men

Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, is the leading cause of death in the United States. To help combat this epidemic, studies throughout the United States pinpoint dietary guidelines to reduce risk including a recent release from the American Heart Association which stated that hypertensive patients should avoid alcoholic beverages.

23 Mar 2004

Youth obesity provides food for thought

With heart disease developing among children from the age of 10 through poor diet and low activity, young Australians are part of what the World Health Organisation has already termed an "international epidemic of childhood obesity".

22 Mar 2004