Gene Activity Study May Lead to Better Therapies for Fibrosis of the Liver
“A research team carried out an animal study aimed at better understanding the scarring process (fibrosis) in diseased or injured livers. They examined gene activity in two different mouse models exhibiting varying degrees of liver disease severity, also capturing certain phases of spontaneous regression of the disease. At the same time, important indicators of disease severity, such as portal venous pressure, blood markers of liver injury, or the extent of liver fibrosis based on liver tissue samples, were recorded.”
Atea’s antiviral treatment combo works for 98% of HCV patients
“Atea Pharmaceuticals’ once-daily oral antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) — a combination of bemnifosbuvir and ruzasvir — successfully cleared HCV within four weeks in 98% of patients in a clinical study, according to new lead-in trial data. The combination antiviral treatment was generally safe and well tolerated, with mostly mild adverse events, according to Atea. No drug-related serious adverse events and no treatment discontinuations were reported. Because the four-week efficacy of 98% exceeded the protocol-defined efficacy criterion of 90% or greater, the study will now continue with up to another 220 participants. It will assess the safety and a sustained virologic response 12 weeks after starting the eight-week treatment regimen. It also will evaluate failure to suppress HCV load, sustained virologic response at 24 weeks, and viral resistance.”
Resources for 2024 National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
“This year, National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NNHAAD) is on Wednesday, March 20. On this day, we pause to recognize the impact of HIV among Native populations and highlight the critical work happening in communities around the country to engage Native people, including American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, in fully ending the HIV epidemic. NNHAAD supports the Indigenous HIV/AIDS Syndemic Strategy: Weaving Together the National HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis Referred to as the Indigi-HAS, the National HIV/AIDS Program for IHS coordinated its release. The Strategy complements the existing National HIV/AIDS Strategy and includes additional specific topics important to Indigenous communities. It adopts a syndemic approach, addressing HIV, hepatitis C virus, and sexually transmitted infections in an integrated way.”
Perinatally Acquired HCV is Better Treated Sooner than Later
“Children treated for perinatally acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) at 3 years of age will live longer and with lower health care costs than those treated at 6 years of age or older, according to investigators who indicate that their analysis model is the first to project life expectancy with age at treatment.”
FACT SHEET: The President’s Budget Protects and Increases Access to Quality, Affordable Healthcare
“The President and the Vice President believe that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. The Administration’s actions to protect and expand Americans’ access to quality, affordable healthcare have made a positive difference for Americans’ well-being and wallets. The Administration continues to build on, strengthen, and protect Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—and now more Americans have health insurance than under any other President.”
