Ko HH, Yoshida EM

Language: English
References: 5
Page: 311-312
PDF size: 86.54 Kb.

Text Extraction

Hepatitis C (HCV) is the worldwide leading cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The goal of treatment is to prevent complications and achieving a sustained virological response (SVR). Various factors, such as genotype, viral load, ethnicity, and fibrosis scores, correlate with the likelihood of patients achieving an SVR. Patients with genotype 1, high viral loads, cirrhosis or pre-cirrhosis on biopsy and failures to previous therapy, are very difficult to treat and often have the greatest clinical need. Therefore, new therapeutic options and more efficacious treatment strategies are desperately needed. Thymalfasin is a pure, synthetic amino-terminal acylated peptide of 28 amino acids that can trigger maturational events in lymphocytes, augment T cell function, promote reconstitution of immune defects, and inhibit viral replication. Compared to IFNá monotherapy, thymalfasin and IFNá had been shown to have higher rates of biochemical, virological and histological responses.

REFERENCES

1. Zeuzen S, Yoshida EM, Benhamou Y, et al. Albinterferon alfa-2b dosed every two or four weeks in interferon-naive patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C. Hepatology 2008; 48(2): 407-17.

2. Forestier N, Reesink HW, Weegink CJ, et al. Antiviral activity of telparevir (VX-950) and peginterferon alfa-2b in patients with hepatitis C. Hepatology 2007; 46(3): 640-8.

3. Lawitz E, Rodriguez-Torres M, Muir AJ, et al. Antiviral effects and safety of telaprevir, peginterferon alfa-2a, and ribavirin for 28 days in hepatitis C patients. J Hepatol 2008; 49(2): 163-9.

4. Kwo P, et al. Interim Results From HCV Sprint-1: RVR/EVR From Phase 2 Study Of Boceprevir Plus Pegintron™ (Peginterferon Alfa-2b)/Ribavirin In Treatment Naive Subjects With Genotype-1 CHC. Journal of Hepatology 2008; 48, Supplement 2 (Abstracts of the 43rd annual meetings of the EASL): S372.

5. Pockros PJ, Nelson D, Godofsky E, et al. R1626 plus peginterferon alfa-2a provides potent suppression of hepatitis C virus RNA and significant antiviral synergy in combination with ribavirin. Hepatology 2008. 48(2): 385-97.