Content about Hepatitis

May 17, 2013
Walgreens pharmacist interventions help improve compliance to newer 'triple therapy' hepatitis C treatment

More than two-thirds of patients with hepatitis C achieved sustained virologic response or cure after completing newer “triple therapy” treatment, according to a Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy study released Friday.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — More than two-thirds of patients with hepatitis C achieved sustained virologic response or cure after completing newer “triple therapy” treatment, according to a Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy study released Friday. 

March 4, 2013
Sequester will hamper disease-prevention efforts, report warns

Automatic spending cuts stemming from the failure of Congress and the White House to reach a budget deal will likely harm the disease-preventing capabilities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a new report.

NEW YORK — Automatic spending cuts stemming from the failure of Congress and the White House to reach a budget deal will likely harm the disease-preventing capabilities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a new report.

GlobalData, a market research and analytics firm, said the slashing of the CDC's funding by $450 million, or 8%, due to the sequester would both hamper its ability to prevent infectious diseases through immunization, surveillance and response programs while also failing to accomplish the goal of decreasing federal spending.

January 17, 2013
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals starts phase-3 trial of HCV drug

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals has enrolled the first patients in its late-stage trial of a treatment for hepatitis C, the drug maker said Thursday.

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals has enrolled the first patients in its late-stage trial of a treatment for hepatitis C, the drug maker said Thursday.

BI Pharmaceuticals is conducting the "HCVerso" trial of an HCV drug that combines faldaprevir, the experimental compound BI 207127 and ribavirin. The company has established trial sites in more than 25 states.

November 28, 2012
BioPlus highlights services to hurricane-affected patient

By the time Hurricane Sandy had finished sweeping up the East Coast, it left billions of dollars in damage and took dozens of lives.

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — By the time Hurricane Sandy had finished sweeping up the East Coast, it left billions of dollars in damage and took dozens of lives.

But it caused another dimension of hardship for some people: those living with chronic diseases.

November 19, 2012
FDA approves GSK drug for hepatitis C patients with low platelet counts

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for a condition that can complicate treatment for hepatitis C.

LONDON — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for a condition that can complicate treatment for hepatitis C.

GlaxoSmithKline said Monday that the FDA had approved Promacta (eltrombopag) for treating low blood-platelet counts, also known as thrombocytopenia, to allow patients with hepatitis C to undergo and maintain interferon-based therapy. The drug already had FDA approval to treat chronic immune thrombocytopenia. 

November 9, 2012
BI launches hepatitis C website

Drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim has created a website designed for patients with hepatitis C and advocates, the company said Friday.

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — Drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim has created a website designed for patients with hepatitis C and advocates, the company said Friday.

BI announced the launch of HepCRedefined.com, which it describes as an online portal to help improve the lives of those living with the virus through education, information and understanding.

June 14, 2012
Kadmon announces launch of 600 mg/day dose pack of Ribasphere RibaPak

Kadmon Pharmaceuticals earlier this month announced that it has launched a new 600 mg/day dose pack of Ribasphere RibaPak (ribavirin, USP), Kadmon's proprietary ribavirin regimen available in a daily, two-pill compliance package for enhanced therapy adherence.

NEW YORK — Kadmon Pharmaceuticals earlier this month announced that it has launched a new 600 mg/day dose pack of Ribasphere RibaPak (ribavirin, USP), Kadmon's proprietary ribavirin regimen available in a daily, two-pill compliance package for enhanced therapy adherence.

The new dose pack is designed to provide added dosing control to improve the management of hemolytic anemia in certain patients prescribed the triple therapy of a protease inhibitor, pegylated alpha interferon and ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

April 20, 2012
Two strategies for managing anemia in hepatitis C patients work equally well, Merck says

Merck is testing two means of treating patients with chronic hepatitis C for anemia, a common side effect of certain treatments for the viral infection, the drug maker said.

BARCELONA, Spain — Merck is testing two means of treating patients with chronic hepatitis C for anemia, a common side effect of certain treatments for the viral infection, the drug maker said.

Merck announced results of a phase-3 study comparing two strategies for managing anemia and how they affect the curing of hepatitis C in patients taking Victrelis (boceprevir) with Pegintron (peginterferon alfa-2b) and ribavirin.

February 22, 2012
Novartis to pay $440 million for hepatitis C drug

Novartis plans to pay up to $440 million for rights to a drug for treating hepatitis C made by Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Enanta said.

WATERTOWN, Mass. — Novartis plans to pay up to $440 million for rights to a drug for treating hepatitis C made by Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Enanta said.

Enanta said it had made a licensing agreement with the Swiss drug maker for the worldwide development, manufacturing and commercialization of the drug EDP-239, which works by inhibiting NS5A, a protein that is key to the virus' replication.

January 18, 2012
Gilead completes acquisition of Pharmasset

Drug maker Gilead Sciences has completed its $11.2 billion acquisition of Pharmasset, Gilead said.

FOSTER CITY, Calif. — Drug maker Gilead Sciences has completed its $11.2 billion acquisition of Pharmasset, Gilead said.

The $137-per-share merger, originally announced in November 2011, makes Pharmasset a wholly owned subsidiary of Gilead. Pharmasset, based in Princeton, N.J., focuses on developing orally administered drugs for viral infections, particularly hepatitis C.

 

Interested in this topic? Sign up for our weekly DSN Collaborative Care e-newsletter.

January 16, 2012
FDA issues alert about sharing of insulin pens

The Food and Drug Administration's latest message to consumers and healthcare professionals seems like a no-brainer: "Insulin pens are not for sharing."

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration's latest message to consumers and healthcare professionals seems like a no-brainer: "Insulin pens are not for sharing."

But the agency said it knew of two undisclosed hospitals that it said had reused the cartridge components of insulin pens in administering insulin to more than 2,000 patients, though the hospitals reportedly changed the pens themselves.

January 6, 2012
Achillion receives fast-track designation for hepatitis C drug

The Food and Drug Administration has granted fast-track designation to a drug currently under development by Achillion Pharmaceuticals for hepatitis C, the company said.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The Food and Drug Administration has granted fast-track designation to a drug currently under development by Achillion Pharmaceuticals for hepatitis C, the company said.

October 3, 2011
Bristol-Myers Squibb to present at The Liver Meeting

Bristol-Myers Squibb will present 22 study abstracts next month at the 62nd annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases in San Francisco, the company said.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Bristol-Myers Squibb will present 22 study abstracts next month at the 62nd annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases in San Francisco, the company said.

Key presentations set to take place at the meeting, called The Liver Meeting, include studies on the hepatitis B drug Baraclude (entecavir) and drugs under development for hepatitis C and liver cancer.

July 28, 2011
HEALS of the South seeks to educate patients about hepatitis

The Hepatitis Education Awareness and Liver Support of the South is advocating for awareness about hepatitis and the importance of Medicare Part D as part of World Hepatitis Day, the organization said Thursday.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Hepatitis Education Awareness and Liver Support of the South is advocating for awareness about hepatitis and the importance of Medicare Part D as part of World Hepatitis Day, the organization said Thursday.

July 12, 2011
FDA grants orphan drug designation to 4SC cancer treatment

The Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation to a cancer treatment in mid-stage development made by German drug maker 4SC, the company said Tuesday.

PLANEGG-MARTINSRIED, Germany — The Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation to a cancer treatment in mid-stage development made by German drug maker 4SC, the company said Tuesday.

4SC announced that it received the designation for resminostat, currently in phase-2 clinical trials as a treatment for hepatocellular cancer, or HCC. The FDA grants orphan drug designation to drugs for diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the United States.

July 6, 2011
Accredo helps hepatitis C patients save up to $13K

Pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions’ specialty pharmacy division, Accredo Health Group, has managed to drive down costs for treating hepatitis C by an average of $13,000 per patient, the company said Tuesday.

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. — Pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions’ specialty pharmacy division, Accredo Health Group, has managed to drive down costs for treating hepatitis C by an average of $13,000 per patient, the company said Tuesday.

Medco said Accredo had been successful in using genotype information to identify patients who only may need 24 weeks of therapy, as opposed to 48 weeks, thus reducing costs.

June 3, 2011
CVS enhances Hep C CareTeam

CVS Caremark is enhancing its hepatitis C patient support program following the recent Food and Drug Administration approval of two new add-on therapies for hepatitis C, the company announced on Friday.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark is enhancing its hepatitis C patient support program following the recent Food and Drug Administration approval of two new add-on therapies for hepatitis C, the company announced on Friday.

May 23, 2011
FDA approves Incivek as hepatitis C treatment

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment for hepatitis C made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the agency said Monday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment for hepatitis C made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the agency said Monday.

The FDA approved Incivek (telaprevir) to treat adults with chronic hepatitis C infection, particularly those who either have not received interferon-based drug therapy or who have not responded to prior therapies. The drug is approved for use with therapies that include ribavirin and peginterferon alfa.

May 16, 2011
Victrelis approved by FDA as chronic hepatitis C treatment

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for chronic hepatitis C, the agency said Friday.

SILVER SPRING, Md.— The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for chronic hepatitis C, the agency said Friday.

The FDA announced the approval of Merck’s Victrelis (boceprevir) for patients with the disease. The drug is designed for patients who still have some liver function and have not previously received treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection or have failed previous treatments. The drug is approved for use in combination with the generic drug ribavirin and pegylated interferons, biotech drugs used for treating the disease.

May 9, 2011
Merck kicks off Hope Against Hepatitis C initiative

Drug maker Merck announced that it has kicked off an initiative that includes a wide range of public education and patient support programs, as well as research efforts to help improve care for people living with chronic hepatitis C virus infections.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Drug maker Merck announced that it has kicked off an initiative that includes a wide range of public education and patient support programs, as well as research efforts to help improve care for people living with chronic hepatitis C virus infections.

Merck's Hope Against Hepatitis C initiative includes a variety of public-private partnerships, educational programs and collaborative research efforts aimed at supporting the hepatitis C community.

April 12, 2011
Medco: Antidepressant use may boost adherence among hepatitis C patients

Medication adherence among hepatitis C patients may improve when patients take antidepressants, according to a new analysis by pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions presented Monday at the International Conference on Viral Hepatitis.

BALTIMORE — Medication adherence among hepatitis C patients may improve when patients take antidepressants, according to a new analysis by pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions presented Monday at the International Conference on Viral Hepatitis.

January 20, 2011
Vertex's hepatitis C drug granted priority review by FDA, Health Canada

The Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada have granted priority review to a drug for treating hepatitis C.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada have granted priority review to a drug for treating hepatitis C.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced Thursday that the two agencies had given the designation to telaprevir for treating patients with chronic infections.

January 6, 2011
Merck's hepatitis C drug granted priority review by FDA

The Food and Drug Administration granted priority review to an approval application for a hepatitis C drug made by Merck, the drug maker said Thursday.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration granted priority review to an approval application for a hepatitis C drug made by Merck, the drug maker said Thursday.

Merck said the FDA would seek to complete its review of the application for the drug boceprevir within six months. Authorities in the European Union have granted expedited review as well.

October 17, 2010
FDA OKs expanded use of Baraclude

The Food and Drug Administration has approved an additional use for a hepatitis drug....

PRINCETON, N.J. The Food and Drug Administration has approved an additional use for a hepatitis drug.

 

Bristol-Myers Squibb announced Monday the approval of Baraclude (entecavir) as a treatment for chronic hepatitis B in adults with decompensated liver disease. The drug already is approved for adults with evidence of active viral replication.

 

 

September 26, 2010
Supplementing liver health

Nutramax Labs recently launched its Samsyl dietary supplement for liver health. Samsyl contains a blend...

EDGEWOOD, Md. —Nutramax Labs recently launched its Samsyl dietary supplement for liver health. Samsyl contains a blend of S-adenosylmethionine, or SAMe, along with a highly bioavailable silybin-soy phosphatidylcholine complex.