Summary AASLD 2013 - Review Of Several Hepatitis C Interferon-free Regimens

Good evening folks, 

As coverage on this years American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Conference comes to a close, a new summary and commentary on experimental therapies for hepatitis C presented at the meeting is available at three of my favorite HCV websites.

For over a decade, HCV Advocate, HIV and Hepatitis, and NATAP has been an important and familiar presence in the hepatitis C community, providing cutting edge research on HIV and viral hepatitis.

AASLD Coverage - The Peoples Website

The "Peoples Website" also known at HCV Advocate, is a great place for reviewing easy to understand conference coverage, basic information, news and the all-encompassing HCV drug pipeline.

People who are considering HCV treatment will benefit greatly from an overview of the meeting, with study results from several IFN-free combination trials using different direct acting antivirals (DAAs)

Editor-in-Chief, Alan Franciscus, offers commentary on the promising experimental drugs presented at this years meeting, other important posters on cirrhosis and liver cancer are also presented with a quick easy explanation by Mr. Franciscus.

HCV Advocate: Top News from AASLD 2013

AASLD Summary 

HIV and Hepatitis also dedicated to providing up-to-date information on hepatitis C, published a comprehensive conference summary which include study results of interferon-free regimens in treatment-naïve, null responders and difficult-to-treat populations, such as HIV/HCV coinfected and transplant recipients.

AASLD - Liver Meeting Ends with Hepatitis C Debrief and the Future of Treatment

Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of HIV and Hepatitis, Liz Highleyman, has written a summary on several interferon-free regimens presented in a "hepatitis debrief" by Mark Sulkowski, Professor of Medicine; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Excerpt:

The final day of AASLD Liver Meeting, recently held in Washington, DC, featured an overview of the status of new hepatitis C therapies, similarities between HCV and HIV, and a look towards the future of hepatitis C treatment 

Looking at genotypes 2 and 3, sofosbuvir plus ribavirin led to 12-week post-treatment sustained virological response (SVR12) rates of 93% for genotype 2 patients treated for 12 weeks and 85% for genotype 3 patients treated for 24 weeks in the VALENCE trial.

This study underscores the growing realization that HCV genotypes 2 and 3 -- traditionally classified together as "easier-to-treat" -- are in fact quite different, with genotype 3 patients benefitting from more intensive therapy.

Development of HCV NS5A replication complex inhibitors has expanded opportunities for interferon-free regimens that target different steps of the viral lifecycle. Though their mechanism of action is not fully understood, they appear to interfere with viral assembly. Several agents in this class, including daclatasvir (BMS-790052), ledipasvir (GS-5885), ABT-267, and MK-8742, have contributed to high cure rates in all-oral regimens with HCV protease or polymerase inhibitors.

Read the complete summary;
AASLD 2013: Liver Meeting Ends with Hepatitis C Debrief and the Future of Treatment
All Commentary/Abstracts commentary and coverage by Liz Highleyman @ hivandhepatitis.com

NATAP stays current by providing news, breaking drug research and treatment information as well as comprehensive reports and developments. Frequently note worthy articles published in peer-reviewed journals which require a yearly fee to subscribe are uploaded by Mr. Levin, for the user to view without the burden of payment.

New Phase II Data from All-Oral Regimens

Jules Levin founder and executive director of National AIDS Treatment Advocacy Project (NATAP) offers commentary, additional resources and slides from Dr. Poordad's presentation; New Phase II Data from All-Oral Regimens  which reviews new data on HCV oral IFN-free protease based regimens ABT 450, faldaprevir, MK 5172, simeprevir , asunaprevir, and the much anticipated, soon to be approved - nucleoside based sofosbuvir.

View the complete presentation @ NATAP
All Slides/Abstracts coverage and commentary by Jules Levin @ NATAP

AASLD Coverage

Commentary/Abstracts/Videos @ Healio

CME/CE with commentary by Michael Smith @ MedPage Today

In Case You Missed it
 
AASLD 2013 Internet Symposium

AASLD 2013 Internet Symposium - ViralEd
The 1.5 hour symposium discussing key studies on current and HCV future drugs, featuring 4 well-known and recognized thought leaders in the HCV field; Fred Poordad, MD ( looking hot in his bow tie), K. Rajender Reddy, MD., Mark Sulkowski, MD., and Nezam H. Afdhal, MD.

Advanced HCV Treatment Topics 

Advanced HCV Treatment Topics  - Video Discussion Clinical Care Options (CCO)
The program begins with text and video commentary on clinical trial data of investigational agents sofosbuvir and simeprevir in treatment naïve and experienced genotype 3 patients moderated by Fred Poordad, MD, with Nezam H. Afdhal, MD, FRCPI, Douglas T. Dietrich, MD, Paul Y. Kwo, MD, and Norah Terrault, MD, MPH.

*A case-based panel discussion exploring complex management issues in HCV-infected patients