PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

All-oral, direct-acting antivirals show promise for hep C and HIV co-infected, cirrhotic patients

Latest results show sofosbuvir-based combinations are effective and well tolerated in difficult-to-treat patients

2015-04-23
(Press-News.org) April 23, 2015, Vienna, Austria: A new study revealed today at The International Liver CongressTM 2015 shows that sofosbuvir (SOF)-based regimens are effective and well tolerated in hepatitis C and HIV co-infected, cirrhotic patients. Sustained virologic response at 4 weeks (SVR4) was observed in 98% of patients and in 95% at 12 weeks (SVR12).

The results are particularly encouraging as this patient group is considered difficult-to-treat and has a high mortality rate. The study included 142 patients of different hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes who were initiated onto SOF-based regimens.

Adverse events were reported in 42 patients (digestive 10%, anaemia 19%, asthenia 24%, others 48%). Treatment was stopped in 3 patients and dose-adjusted in 13.

These results show that direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) such as SOF-based regimens are effective and well tolerated in HIV-HCV co-infected, cirrhotic patients; however, it is important to note that surveillance for liver-related events should continue in these patients.

INFORMATION:

About The International Liver Congress™ This annual congress is the biggest event in the EASL calendar, attracting scientific and medical experts from around the world to learn about the latest in liver research. Specialists share research studies and findings, and discuss the hottest topics related to liver disease. This year, the congress is expected to attract approximately 10,000 delegates from all corners of the globe. 2015 is a very special year for EASL and the hepatology community as they will celebrate the 50th annual meeting. The International Liver Congress™ takes place from April 22-26, 2015, Vienna, Austria.

About EASL Since EASL's foundation in 1966, this not-for-profit organisation has grown to over 4,000 members from more than 100 countries around the world. EASL is the leading liver association in Europe, it attracts the foremost hepatology experts and has an impressive track record in promoting research in liver disease, supporting wider education and promoting changes in European liver policy.

Contact For more information, please contact the ILC Press Office at: ilc.press@easloffice.eu or
+44 (0)20 3580 5444



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

All-oral, DAA options for HCV effective & well tolerated in patients with decompensated cirrhosis

2015-04-23
April 23, 2015, Vienna, Austria: Interim data presented today at The International Liver CongressTM 2015 from the HCV-TARGET study show that all-oral, direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C (HCV) is well tolerated and highly effective in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Sustained virologic response (SVR) at 4 weeks was shown to be: sofosbuvir/ribavirin: 75%; sofosbuvir/simeprevir: 77%; sofosbuvir/simeprevir/ribavirin: 81%. These results demonstrate that all-oral, direct-acting antiviral regimens are better tolerated and achieve higher rates of SVR in HCV ...

Delaying treatment for hepatitis C puts patients' lives at risk

2015-04-23
April 23, 2015, Vienna, Austria: Data revealed today at The International Liver Congress™ 2015 highlights the impact of delaying treatment for the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Researchers found that treatment delays have a serious detrimental effect on treatment efficacy, increasing the risk of morbidity and mortality among patients. The study was conducted using retrospective patient data from the Veterans Administration in the USA to estimate the impact on risk of morbidity and death depending on whether treatment was initiated before or after a patient's FIB4 levels ...

Global expansion of hepatitis vaccination needed to progress hepatitis B elimination

2015-04-23
April 23, 2015, Vienna, Austria: Results revealed today at The International Liver Congress™ 2015 demonstrate current treatment and prevention programmes need to be scaled up in order to make elimination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) possible. The study conducted by Imperial College Scientists, highlights that if existing interventions, such as infant hepatitis B vaccination and treatment programmes, were scaled up, the number of new chronic HBV infections could be reduced by 90% and mortality levels could be reduced by 65% by 2030. Globally, this would mean 13 million ...

New device shows potential to enhance the viability of donor livers

2015-04-23
April 23, 2015, Vienna, Austria: A new device has demonstrated it has the potential to enhance the viability of donor livers for transplantation. Results revealed today at The International Liver Congress™ 2015 show that the transportable machine perfusion (MP) Airdrive® is able to effectively maintain the quality of livers derived from donation after circulatory death (DCD). Many centers are reluctant to use DCD livers since they might jeopardize graft function post-transplantation. Contrary to 'classical' heart-beating donors (HBD), livers from DCDs undergo ...

Weight loss is associated with improvements in histological features of NASH

2015-04-23
April 23, 2015, Vienna, Austria: New data presented today at The International Liver CongressTM 2015 show that the intensity of weight loss induced by lifestyle changes is strongly linked with the grade of improvement of various histological features of NASH. Weight loss of more than 7% results in a positive impact on most histological parameters; however, to induce steatohepatitis resolution, and fibrosis and portal inflammation improvements, over 10% weight loss is needed. The study was conducted in 293 patients with histologically proven NASH. Patients were treated ...

Novel immunotherapeutic, TG1050, shows early signs of potential for chronic hepatitis B cure

2015-04-23
April 23, 2015, Vienna, Austria: A novel immunotherapeutic in early development for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), TG1050, has been shown to reach the clinical goals that are considered to be the hallmarks of a cure for CHB, according to results revealed today at The International Liver Congress™ 2015. The hallmarks of a CHB cure are: Elimination of HBsAg - the surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus, and HBsAg seroconversion - which occurs when a specific antibody becomes detectable in the blood and the corresponding antigen becomes undetectable, in this case ...

Hepatitis C infection linked to increased risk of heart disease

2015-04-23
April 23, 2015, Vienna, Austria: Results from a new study demonstrate that chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and significantly increases cost of care and length of time in hospital. Based on these results, revealed today at The International Liver CongressTM 2015, study investigators conclude that chronic HCV infection should be considered a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. In the study, inpatient prevalence of diagnosed HCV infection was 1.9%. For these patients, ...

Long-term therapy with ETV or TDF demonstrates positive 5-year survival in patients with chronic HBV

2015-04-23
April 23, 2015, Vienna, Austria: Data revealed today at The International Liver Congress™ 2015 show that the long-term use of entecavir (ETV) or tenofovir (TDF) results in excellent 5-year survival for Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), with more than 95% of patients surviving at 5 years and a significant proportion of deaths coming from liver-unrelated causes. Long-term ETV or TDF therapy is the most common treatment option in CHB of any severity, but efficacy data have been mainly based upon on-therapy virological remission rates. In this 9-centre, ...

Chilli peppers hold promise of preventing liver damage and progression

2015-04-23
23 April 2015, Austria, Vienna: Results revealed today at the International Liver Congress™ 2015 show that the daily consumption of capsaicin, the active compound of chilli peppers, was found to have beneficial effects on liver damage. In the study, capsaicin was found to reduce the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in mice models. HSCs are the major cell type involved in liver fibrosis, which is the formation of scar tissue in response to liver damage. The mice were split into two groups and received capsaicin in their food: After three days of bile ...

Baclofen shows promise in patients with alcohol-induced liver disease

2015-04-23
April 23, 2015, Austria, Vienna: Results revealed today at The International Liver Congress™ 2015, show that in patients with alcohol-induced liver disease (ALD), Baclofen has a positive impact on alcohol consumption and overall measures of liver function and harm. ALD is a major cause of alcohol-related mortality and helping patients with ALD to stop drinking is a primary goal of treatment. The primary aim of this study was to measure the effectiveness and tolerability of Baclofen in maintaining abstinence in this difficult to treat group, and to determine if this ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Hormone therapy reshapes the skeleton in transgender individuals who previously blocked puberty

Evaluating performance and agreement of coronary heart disease polygenic risk scores

Heart failure in zero gravity— external constraint and cardiac hemodynamics

Amid record year for dengue infections, new study finds climate change responsible for 19% of today’s rising dengue burden

New study finds air pollution increases inflammation primarily in patients with heart disease

AI finds undiagnosed liver disease in early stages

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announce new research fellowship in malaria genomics in honor of professor Dominic Kwiatkowski

Excessive screen time linked to early puberty and accelerated bone growth

First nationwide study discovers link between delayed puberty in boys and increased hospital visits

Traditional Mayan practices have long promoted unique levels of family harmony. But what effect is globalization having?

New microfluidic device reveals how the shape of a tumour can predict a cancer’s aggressiveness

Speech Accessibility Project partners with The Matthew Foundation, Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress

Mass General Brigham researchers find too much sitting hurts the heart

New study shows how salmonella tricks gut defenses to cause infection

Study challenges assumptions about how tuberculosis bacteria grow

NASA Goddard Lidar team receives Center Innovation Award for Advancements

Can AI improve plant-based meats?

How microbes create the most toxic form of mercury

‘Walk this Way’: FSU researchers’ model explains how ants create trails to multiple food sources

A new CNIC study describes a mechanism whereby cells respond to mechanical signals from their surroundings

Study uncovers earliest evidence of humans using fire to shape the landscape of Tasmania

Researchers uncover Achilles heel of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Scientists uncover earliest evidence of fire use to manage Tasmanian landscape

Interpreting population mean treatment effects in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire

Targeting carbohydrate metabolism in colorectal cancer: Synergy of therapies

Stress makes mice’s memories less specific

Research finds no significant negative impact of repealing a Depression-era law allowing companies to pay workers with disabilities below minimum wage

Resilience index needed to keep us within planet’s ‘safe operating space’

How stress is fundamentally changing our memories

Time in nature benefits children with mental health difficulties: study

[Press-News.org] All-oral, direct-acting antivirals show promise for hep C and HIV co-infected, cirrhotic patients
Latest results show sofosbuvir-based combinations are effective and well tolerated in difficult-to-treat patients