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| Hepatitis C drugs provide 'cure' | Hepatitis C drugs provide 'cure' |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| People infected with hepatitis C can be cured with existing treatments, researchers have discovered. | People infected with hepatitis C can be cured with existing treatments, researchers have discovered. |
| Around 99% of patients successfully treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin had no detectable virus for up to seven years. | |
| The treatments were known to work initially but it had been unclear whether the virus would come back. | The treatments were known to work initially but it had been unclear whether the virus would come back. |
| Experts said it was good news for patients but that some still suffer from painful symptoms. | Experts said it was good news for patients but that some still suffer from painful symptoms. |
| Over the past decade the number of people in the UK diagnosed with hepatitis C has increased because of higher rates of testing. | Over the past decade the number of people in the UK diagnosed with hepatitis C has increased because of higher rates of testing. |
| This data looks incredibly promising and it's extremely good news for patients as they are always concerned that the virus would come back Charles Gore, Hepatitis C Trust | This data looks incredibly promising and it's extremely good news for patients as they are always concerned that the virus would come back Charles Gore, Hepatitis C Trust |
| But many people are still unaware they are carrying the infection. | But many people are still unaware they are carrying the infection. |
| Hepatitis C, which is contracted through infected blood, can cause cirrhosis, liver failure or cancer. | Hepatitis C, which is contracted through infected blood, can cause cirrhosis, liver failure or cancer. |
| Early treatment is usually effective. | Early treatment is usually effective. |
| Long-term cure | Long-term cure |
| Professor Mitchell Shiffman, chief of hepatology at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical School, and colleagues carried out a long-term study in 1,000 patients to find out whether the virus would come back. | Professor Mitchell Shiffman, chief of hepatology at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical School, and colleagues carried out a long-term study in 1,000 patients to find out whether the virus would come back. |
| Participants were given a course of injections of pegylated interferon alone or in combination with ribavirin. | |
| In those for whom treatment was successful (no detectable virus after six months) only eight patients tested positive for the virus in the following seven years. | |
| The researchers pointed out it had not yet been determined if those patients had suffered a relapse or been reinfected. | The researchers pointed out it had not yet been determined if those patients had suffered a relapse or been reinfected. |
| Professor Shiffman said: "We are encouraged by this data because it is rare in the treatment of life-threatening viral diseases that we can tell patients they may be cured. | Professor Shiffman said: "We are encouraged by this data because it is rare in the treatment of life-threatening viral diseases that we can tell patients they may be cured. |
| "In hepatitis C today, we are able to help some patients achieve an outcome that effectively enables them to put their disease behind them." | "In hepatitis C today, we are able to help some patients achieve an outcome that effectively enables them to put their disease behind them." |
| It is believed that around 250,000 people in the UK have signs of hepatitis C infection, although some of these will clear it naturally and not become chronically infected. | It is believed that around 250,000 people in the UK have signs of hepatitis C infection, although some of these will clear it naturally and not become chronically infected. |
| However, the number could actually be as high as half a million and it is estimated that nine out of ten people do not know they are infected. | However, the number could actually be as high as half a million and it is estimated that nine out of ten people do not know they are infected. |
| It can take years or even decades for symptoms to appear but a recent Department of Health campaign has been encouraging those at risk to get tested. | It can take years or even decades for symptoms to appear but a recent Department of Health campaign has been encouraging those at risk to get tested. |
| Anyone who ever shared equipment for injecting drugs - even if it was a long time ago, and even if they only did it once or twice - they could be at risk from hepatitis C. | Anyone who ever shared equipment for injecting drugs - even if it was a long time ago, and even if they only did it once or twice - they could be at risk from hepatitis C. |
| Others could have become infected through a blood transfusion, if they received one before screening was introduced in 1991 - or through sharing banknotes or straws to snort cocaine. | Others could have become infected through a blood transfusion, if they received one before screening was introduced in 1991 - or through sharing banknotes or straws to snort cocaine. |
| Charles Gore, chief executive of the Hepatitis C trust said the results would be reassuring for patients who had to undergo six months to a year of weekly injections and daily tablets. | Charles Gore, chief executive of the Hepatitis C trust said the results would be reassuring for patients who had to undergo six months to a year of weekly injections and daily tablets. |
| "This data looks incredibly promising and it's extremely good news for patients as they are always concerned that the virus would come back." | "This data looks incredibly promising and it's extremely good news for patients as they are always concerned that the virus would come back." |
| "The only thing we would add is that we're talking about a cure for liver disease, which is the thing that kills you, but not everyone feels fantastic at the end of treatment - some people have lingering symptoms such as aches in their joints and feeling tired." | "The only thing we would add is that we're talking about a cure for liver disease, which is the thing that kills you, but not everyone feels fantastic at the end of treatment - some people have lingering symptoms such as aches in their joints and feeling tired." |