New Drug Agaist Hepatitis C with Favorable Results

Washington, Sep 3 (PL) A new drug for the treatment of Hepatitis C, still in clinical trial, shows very favorable characteristics and is emerging as a good candidate to replace pegylated interferon, current therapy for the disease.

Previous research demonstrated the efficacy of the molecule at a single dose for genotypes 2 and 3 without interferon. A recent study reported in JAMA magazine, also supports its feasibility versus genotype 1, also without using the injection.

The authors of the study of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the United States, tested the drug, called sofosbuvir, with patients who had their liver already damaged, the most difficult to treat.

" In general terms, we saw cure rates of about 70 percent using regimens in combination that did not include interferon, a result that is very encouraging, especially when taking into account the proportion of volunteers with poor prognostic features," explained in a statement the main author Shyam Kottilil.

There are various tests being carried out in search for new therapies for hepatitis C, a contagious disease caused by viruses of the same name, it is estimated there are 150 million people affected worldwide, and 350.000 die each year as a result.