Twice Daily Oral Medication Shows Promise in Treating Patients with Hepatitis C
Presented: Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 8:00 am Eastern Time in Boston, MA
ALEXANDRIA, Va. and BOSTON, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- All approved
therapy regimens to treat patients with hepatitis C are based on
interferon, which must be injected. In this clinical trial to be
presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the
Study of Liver Diseases, researchers treated patients - both
treatment naive and experienced patients - with a twice daily oral
combination therapy of a nucleoside polymerase and protease
inhibitor. The results were significant antiviral potency and
sustained viral reductions. In addition, the therapy appeared safe
and well-tolerated. "The expected better tolerability of these
IFN-free combination DAA regimens may make treatment easier for
patients and also allow for patients to be treated who are unable
to take interferon based therapy," said Edward Gane, MD, lead
investigator on this study. "The greater numbers treated and better
success rates should eventually help reduce the future projected
burden of end-stage liver disease for chronic HCV."
The INFORM-1 trial is randomized, double-blind, and placebo
controlled. The oral therapy was administered over a 14-day period,
and the antiviral responses were impressive among all groups. It
was reported that the combination is undergoing further development
for treatment of chronic hepatitis C. "This is the first study to
demonstrate that an IFN-free, twice daily, combination DAA regimen
produces similar antiviral activity compared to triple therapy (SOC
plus protease) over 2 weeks of treatment," said Dr. Gane. "This
combination may represent the first IFN-free treatment regimen for
both treatment-naive and previously treated patients with HCV
Genotype 1 infection."
These results are very promising in regards of antiviral potency
and lack of resistance development. "From here we will need to
explore in a stepwise fashion if longer treatment will result in
persistent viral suppression, clear all HCV-infected hepatocytes
and ultimately lead to a sustained virologic response (SVR)," said
Dr. Gane. He concluded by saying, "as we explore this new treatment
paradigm, we hope to gain a better understanding of the virus host
interaction in HCV, as DAA induced viral suppression in the absence
of extrinsic interferon allows us to study intrinsic interferon
responses and associated biomarkers."
Abstract title:
Combination therapy with a nucleoside polymerase (R7128) and
protease (R7227/ITMN-191) inhibitor in HCV: Safety,
pharmacokinetics, and virologic results from INFORM-1
About the AASLD
AASLD is the leading medical society focused solely on advancing
the science and practice of hepatology and represents more than
3,300 practitioners, researchers, and allied health professionals
worldwide. Founded by physicians in 1950, AASLD has upheld the
standards of the profession and fostered research that generates
treatment options for the millions of patients with liver
diseases.
This year's Liver Meeting, held in Boston, Massachusetts,
October 30 - November 3, will bring together more than 7,000
researchers from 55 countries. A pressroom will be available from
October 31 at the annual meeting. For copies of abstracts and press
releases, or to arrange for pre-conference research interviews
contact Gregory Bologna at 703-299-9766. To pre-register, call Ann
Tracy at 703-299-9766.
Press releases, additional information for the media, and all
abstracts are available online at www.aasld.org.
Media Contact: Gregory Bologna 703-299-9766 gbologna@aasld.org Press Room: October 31 - November 3, 2009 Hynes Convention Center, Room 209 Telephone: (617) 954-2827 Researcher: Edward Gane, MD Email: edgane@adhb.govt.nz Phone: 64 9529 4001
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Source: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)
CONTACT: Gregory Bologna, +1-703-299-9766, gbologna@aasld.org
Web Site: http://www.aasld.org/
Posted: November 2009
