Blood-Borne Diseases

Phase 2 trial with bepirovirsen demonstrates possibility of a functional cure of chronic hepatitis B infection that is sustained after treatment is discontinued.

Resistance to hepatitis C infection may be much greater than previously thought, according to new research by investigators at Trinity College Dublin that revealed associated biological factors.

As viral hepatitis is the most common blood-transmitted infection globally, assessing the toll of hepatitis and hepatitis-related conditions is critical.

Three posters on the subject were presented at The Liver Meeting and were among the meeting’s key presentation highlights called “Best of the Liver Meeting.”

Initially, 28-29% of patients with chronic hepatitis B achieved undetectable virus levels after 24 weeks of treatment with GSK’s bepirovirsen, but this dropped to 9-10% of patients during a phase 2b trial.

About a third of veterans who received a letter to get tested for hepatitis C did so, according to a study by the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System.

Previously thought to be difficult or impossible, one study found HCV and drug use can be treated concurrently in young adults.

Dengue is the most prevalent and important mosquito-borne virus in the world. Atea Pharmaceuticals presented positive data for their direct-acting dengue antiviral, AT-752.

Organizations look at an agent-based model to assess the impact of vaccination, screening, and treatment on incidence and prevalence of HBV in Ontario, Canada.

That country is trying to contain the virus to prevent further cases, as well as other African countries met to try to prevent an outbreak inside their own borders.

A new review article suggests it is possible to eradicate hepatitis C virus infections among people with hemophilia, but it will take intense focus from public health agencies.

Hepatitis A infections occurred almost exclusively among adults in states with outbreaks.

“Too few persons are receiving timely treatment” with direct-acting antiviral for hepatitis C based on their first positive test result, the study authors wrote.

Bulevirtide, a first-in-class entry inhibitor, showed promise for the treatment of hepatitis B and hepatitis D coinfection, a phase 2 trial found.

Experts are advocating for occult hepatitis B to be spotlighted.

Uganda’s first Ebola outbreak in a decade raises concern due to its vaccine resistance.

Occult HBV infection is likely to go undetected in under-resourced regions of high HBV endemicity and confound WHO goal to eradicate the viral hepatitis by 2030.

With an all-ready challenging patient population to treat, having a program to get more people into treatment can be helpful in an underserved group.

Among pregnant women coinfected with HIV, a higher hepatitis C viral load increased the likelihood of transmitting HCV to children.

However, according to one study the risk of heart inflammation increases with age and amplifies in patients with hepatitis C (HCV) compared to patients without HCV.

A meta-analysis study shows having the comorbidity presents significant health risks for this patient population.

The same 5-year survival rates with kidney transplants from HCV positive and negative donors supports revising HCV "penalty" in ranking donors.

The Liver Health Initiative’s Thelma King Thiel, and HCV co-discoverer and vaccine developer Michael Houghton, PhD, are a “Dynamic Duo” that are working together to bring about an end to this virus.

Nobel Prize Laureate Michael Houghton, PhD, discusses the arduous journey to find the virus and a subsequent investigational vaccine designed to prevent hepatitis C (HCV).

Injection drug users who received accessible care treatment at a syringe service program were almost 3 times as likely to complete their hepatitis C treatment than people who received usual care.