HEPATITIS C/HIV PROJECT NEWS

Hepatitis C and the IL28B Gene Fact Sheet

April 2013 - This fact sheet describes how the genetic factor IL28B affects responses to hepatitis C treatment, including poorer efficacy among African Americans and people of African ancestry.

Updated HCV Protease Inhibitor Fact Sheets in English and Spanish
April 2013 - These fact sheets describe how each drug should be used, how likely treatment is to be successful, common side effects, drugs that cannot be used with each HCV protease inhibitor, and information about co-pay assistance and patient assistance programs.

• INCIVEK (telaprevir)
• VICTRELIS (boceprevir)

Have a Heart, Save My liver!
February 14, 2013 - Today, on the occasion of Valentine's Day, Médecins du Monde and Treatment Action Group (TAG) are launching an action urging pharmaceutical giants Merck and Roche to drop their exorbitant prices for pegylated interferon, an effective hepatitis C (HCV) treatment. Send a Valentine’s Day card (download it at www.hepcoalition.org) to leadership at Merck and Roche and ask them to “Have a Heart, Save My Liver!”

Support Inclusion of Pegylated Interferon in the World Health Organization’s Essential Medicines List: Guidance for Civil Society Submissions
January 15, 2013 - Civil-society groups have an important but limited opportunity to advocate for the inclusion of pegylated interferon on the World Health Organization Essential Medicines List. Deadline Mid-February!

Guide to Clinical Trials for People with Hepatitis C (Second Edition)
January 2013 - There are many new hepatitis C drugs being studied in clinical trials. People with hepatitis C have many options to choose from. Whether you have hepatitis C or another medical condition, deciding to participate in a clinical trial can be complicated. Having more information can help you decide whether or not to participate in a clinical trial, and which trial, or trials, may be right for you. This guide is available in English and Spanish.

HCV Treatment Pipeline Update
12 December 2012 - It is difficult to be anything other than dazzled by astounding cure rates of up to 100% from a multitude of interferon-free hepatitis C virus (HCV) clinical trials presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) meeting in November 2012. Proof of concept has been established: hepatitis C, a disease that claims more than 350,000 lives annually, can be cured with three months of oral antiviral drugs.

HCV Advocates Survey on Global Treatment Access
9 October 2012- Less toxic and more effective cures for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are being developed at a rapid pace. Unfortunately, these drugs are likely to be priced out of reach for the majority people who need it around the world. It will be up to activists to strategically fight for expanding access to life saving prevention, diagnostics, treatment and care. Please Click HERE to complete the short survey and tell us how we can support your current or planned advocacy work in this critical juncture.

Washington Call for Access to HCV Diagnostics, Treatment and Care for All!
27 July 2012 - On the occasion of the XIX International Aids Conference in Washington, DC, USA, and the eve of World Hepatitis Day, the undersigned grassroots civil society groups and non-governmental organizations have formed an international coalition working towards universal access to HCV voluntary testing and treatment.

2012 PIPELINE REPORT
HIV, Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and Tuberculosis (TB) Drugs, Diagnostics, Vaccines, and Preventive Technologies in Development
22 July 2012 - Visit our new website www.PipelineReport.org to:

• Read the report online
• Download individual chapters as PDFs
• Browse for specific information by agent

HCAB Position Statement: Hepatitis C Drug Development and Drug-Drug Interaction Studies
February 2012 - The Hepatitis C Community Advisory Board (HCAB) recognizes the value of more effective and less toxic treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV). We believe that sponsors can conduct key drug-drug interaction (DDI) studies with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and other candidates in development and medications commonly used by people with hepatitis C and those coinfected with HIV/HCV prior to their approval, without delaying development of these important therapies.

2011 Pipeline Report - Second Edition
September 2011 - HIV, Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and Tuberculosis Drugs, Diagnostics, Vaccines, and Preventive Technologies in Development

The Hepatitis C Treatment Pipeline Report
March 2011 - Interferon is the therapeutic backbone of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment, as well as the major barrier to HCV treatment access, uptake, and completion. For many people, hepatitis C treatment does not work, and side effects can be debilitating. Fortunately, scientific advances and keen interest from the pharmaceutical industry have led to the development of dozens of new oral antiviral drugs for hepatitis C. Hopefully, it will soon be possible to replace interferon with a combination of HCVspecific oral drugs (commonly referred to as direct-acting antivirals, or DAAs) that will work for everyone.

Guide to Hepatitis C for People Living with HIV - Testing, Coinfection, Treatment, and Support
October 2009 - Welcome to our treatment guide for HIV-positive people who also have the hepatitis C virus (called HCV, for short). The people who wrote this guide have direct experience with HIV and hepatitis C. We have written this guide to encourage you to explore the range of care and treatment choices available to you. We hope this information helps you feel more in control of some of your HCV treatment choices, so that you can focus on other things you want to do in life.

Guide to Hepatitis B for People Living with HIV
June 2009 - Welcome to this treatment guide for HIV-positive people who also have hepatitis B (HBV). This guide provides information on the prevention, care, and treatment of HBV, and the impact of HBV on HIV disease. It is designed to be accessible to people with no medical training. Where medical terms are used, they are explained in detailed but simple language.