Optimal Treatment Approaches to be Explored at Hepatitis STC
By Ann Haran, AASLD Staff
The 2012 AASLD Hepatitis Single Topic Conference (STC)
HCV Direct Antiviral Agents (DAA): Concepts, Development, and Optimal Use endeavors to advance understanding of the factors and tools available for successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection, with focus on the use of recently approved direct-acting antiviral drugs. The "brainchild" of the AASLD Clinical Research Committee, the course was organized by Raymond Chung, MD, and Warren Schmidt, MD, PhD. Committee member Dr. Schmidt was tasked with arranging a conference when the DAAs were first approved, so that researchers and practitioners could be brought together to investigate and optimize their approach to treatment. Dr. Schmidt stresses that the course was designed to target persistent treatment barriers with new drug discovery and management options.
The course directors encourage anyone involved in the care of patients with HCV to attend this conference. Practitioners who actively treat the disease will certainly benefit, as will those who are less deeply involved with treatment. Dr. Chung stresses that course participation is not limited to hepatologists; rather, gastroenterologists, infectious disease specialists, interested primary care providers, and midlevel providers are also encouraged to attend, as "direct acting antiviral regimens will surely expand care to many more patients and treaters." Presenters will discuss the new, better-tolerated interferon-free drug regimens and how these regimens can be tailored to both conventional and special hepatitis C populations, including those persons with HIV coinfection and those who have undergone liver transplantation. Case-based discussions with audience and panel involvement will highlight key messages. Attendees are also encouraged to submit abstracts detailing their own clinical, translational, or fundamental research in this area to be considered for poster presentation at the conference, as the course directors hope to foster collaboration and maximize the exchange of ideas.
The development of several classes of new therapies will be discussed at the conference, including HCV-specific protease inhibitors, nucleos(t)ide and non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitors, NS5A inhibitors, and host factor inhibitors. An up to date emphasis will be placed on novel pathways that may be fruitful for new drug development. As such, basic scientists from both academia and industry will also benefit from the program. The appropriate use of antiviral agents, either alone or in combination with one another, will be explored, as "there may be several roads to the same destination," according to Dr. Chung. Viral resistance presents a significant obstacle in treating HCV, so the question of how to optimally combine classes of agents to suppress resistance will be discussed. In addition, the FDA will be sending a representative to discuss the regulatory aspects of clinical trial design using these agents.
Dr. Chung predicts a "feverish increase in the number of clinical trials of all oral therapies in the coming years and even the coming months." This symposium should "provide clarity to researchers and practitioners in this early post-DAA period; this will be a rapidly evolving area with no doubt many more updates to come."
By Ann Haran, AASLD Staff
The 2012 AASLD Hepatitis Single Topic Conference (STC)
HCV Direct Antiviral Agents (DAA): Concepts, Development, and Optimal Use endeavors to advance understanding of the factors and tools available for successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection, with focus on the use of recently approved direct-acting antiviral drugs. The "brainchild" of the AASLD Clinical Research Committee, the course was organized by Raymond Chung, MD, and Warren Schmidt, MD, PhD. Committee member Dr. Schmidt was tasked with arranging a conference when the DAAs were first approved, so that researchers and practitioners could be brought together to investigate and optimize their approach to treatment. Dr. Schmidt stresses that the course was designed to target persistent treatment barriers with new drug discovery and management options.
The course directors encourage anyone involved in the care of patients with HCV to attend this conference. Practitioners who actively treat the disease will certainly benefit, as will those who are less deeply involved with treatment. Dr. Chung stresses that course participation is not limited to hepatologists; rather, gastroenterologists, infectious disease specialists, interested primary care providers, and midlevel providers are also encouraged to attend, as "direct acting antiviral regimens will surely expand care to many more patients and treaters." Presenters will discuss the new, better-tolerated interferon-free drug regimens and how these regimens can be tailored to both conventional and special hepatitis C populations, including those persons with HIV coinfection and those who have undergone liver transplantation. Case-based discussions with audience and panel involvement will highlight key messages. Attendees are also encouraged to submit abstracts detailing their own clinical, translational, or fundamental research in this area to be considered for poster presentation at the conference, as the course directors hope to foster collaboration and maximize the exchange of ideas.
The development of several classes of new therapies will be discussed at the conference, including HCV-specific protease inhibitors, nucleos(t)ide and non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitors, NS5A inhibitors, and host factor inhibitors. An up to date emphasis will be placed on novel pathways that may be fruitful for new drug development. As such, basic scientists from both academia and industry will also benefit from the program. The appropriate use of antiviral agents, either alone or in combination with one another, will be explored, as "there may be several roads to the same destination," according to Dr. Chung. Viral resistance presents a significant obstacle in treating HCV, so the question of how to optimally combine classes of agents to suppress resistance will be discussed. In addition, the FDA will be sending a representative to discuss the regulatory aspects of clinical trial design using these agents.
Dr. Chung predicts a "feverish increase in the number of clinical trials of all oral therapies in the coming years and even the coming months." This symposium should "provide clarity to researchers and practitioners in this early post-DAA period; this will be a rapidly evolving area with no doubt many more updates to come."
| Register online or mail us a registration form [PDF]. Advance Registration closes February 10, 2012. |
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