EASL 2013: HIV/HCV Coinfected Patients More Likely to Develop Cirrhosis, but Treatment Lowers Risk

Sustained response to hepatitis C treatment leads to slow regression of liver fibrosis in people with HIV/HCV coinfection, but they remain at elevated risk for liver cirrhosis compared to those without HCV, researchers reported at the EASL International Liver Congress (EASL 2013) last month in Amsterdam.

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CROI 2013: New Treatments for Hepatitis C and HIV/HCV Coinfection

New treatments for hepatitis C were a key focus at the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) this month in Atlanta. Researchers described several next-generation direct-acting antiviral agents for both HCV monoinfected and HV/HCV coinfected people, as well as some interferon-free regimens.

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EASL 2013: HIV/HCV Coinfected at Risk for Decompensation, May Need Prompt Treatment

HIV positive people with hepatitis C coinfection may experience liver decompensation with advanced fibrosis, even before they progress to cirrhosis, and may therefore benefit from earlier antiviral treatment, researchers reported at the EASL International Liver Congress (EASL 2013) last month in Amsterdam.

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CROI 2013: Sofosbuvir + Ribavirin Works Well for Inner-City Hepatitis C Patients

A simple 24-week, all-oral regimen of sofosbuvir plus full-dose ribavirin cured nearly 70% of previously untreated people with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C, many of whom had factors predictive of poor response, researchers reported at the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013) last week in Atlanta.

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Atripla Label Adds Drug Interactions with Hepatitis C Protease Inhibitors Boceprevir and Telaprevir

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced this week that the product label information for Atripla -- the HIV single-tablet regimen containing efavirenz/tenofovir/emtricitabine -- has been updated to include information about drug-drug interactions with the hepatitis C virus protease inhibitors boceprevir (Victrelis) and telaprevir (Incivek or Incivo).

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CROI 2013: AbbVie Interferon-free Combos Cure Most Newly Treated Hepatitis C Patients

All-oral regimens containing the HCV protease inhibitor ABT-450, a non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitor, and ribavirin led to sustained response for more than 90% of previously untreated patients -- including those with unfavorable IL28B gene patterns -- but only about half of prior non-responders, researchers reported at the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013) last week in Atlanta.

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CROI 2013: Advances in Hepatitis C Treatment 2013 [VIDEO]

The advent of direct-acting antiviral agents targeting hepatitis C virus (HCV) have brought about a new era of treatment, but many questions remain about how these new medications will be used in real-world clinical practice.

[Produced in collaboration with IFARA]

In a panel discussion following the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013) this month in Atlanta, Cami Graham from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Kenneth Sherman from the University of Cincinnati, and Kristen Marks from Weill Cornell Medical Center spoke with Liz Highleyman of HIVandHepatitis.com about implications of new therapies for hepatitis C patients and providers.

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Presidio and Boehringer Ingelheim Will Collaborate on Interferon-free Hepatitis C Combo

Presidio Pharmaceuticals and Boehringer Ingelheim will jointly conduct a Phase 2a trial to evaluate an all-oral combination containing its NS4A inhibitor PPI-668 plus faldaprevir and BI 207127, with or without ribavirin, for people with hard-to-treat genotype 1a hepatitis C virus.

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