New hope for people with hepatitis C

University of New South Wales (UNSW) researchers are running two new studies on hepatitis C, which could revolutionise treatment for the virus.

The studies, which are being run nationally, involve an existing drug being administered in a different way.

It is hoped that one study could lead to cure rates of almost 100 percent in those who have just been infected with the virus. The US-funded Australian Trial in Acute Hepatitis C (ATAHC) study involves giving people the drug Pegylated interferon within six months of being diagnosed.

The second study, which will involve more than 800 patients and will be the largest hepatitis C trial in Australia, aims to determine whether a double dose of Pegylated interferon will improve outcomes for people with hepatitis C genotype 1, which is a particularly difficult strain to treat.

The news comes at the start of the first national Hepatitis C Treatment Awareness Week (23-27 May).

Associate Professor Greg Dore, from the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research at UNSW said that even though the standard treatment for hepatitis C has improved dramatically over past five years, only a small minority of people with hepatitis C currently access therapy.

“There is good news and bad news with this virus,” said Associate Professor Dore. “We can cure 50-80 percent of people with current treatments and are working on new ways of administering drugs to improve these rates further, but on the other hand, there is not a lot of awareness about this amongst people with hepatitis C or GPs.”

There are currently 240,000 people infected with hepatitis C in Australia, with up to 16,000 new infections per year. Fewer than 2,000 people get treatment each year.

The National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research has recently established a Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program, which is leading treatment research across Australia. (See Factsheet)

“Already 30 percent of liver transplants carried out in Australia are related to hepatitis C damage,” said Professor Dore. “I hope that we can reduce the incidence of the virus and improve the quality of life of people with hepatitis C.”

For more information on the studies, got to www.med.unsw.edu.au/nchecr and follow the “Join a Study” link.