Presents promising data on triple therapy with pegylated interferon and Ribavirin, for patients with HIV and hepatitis C

-in Spain, over 23% of patients with HIV suffers also from chronic hepatitis C

-one of the latest advances in the treatment of patients co-infected with lies in the realization test the IL28B to predict the response and optimize the results

-progression to cirrhosis and liver terminal illness occurs faster in the coinfectada population, the direct action against HCV antiviral first have been highly anticipated for a long time

Madrid, may 2012.- in order to discuss the latest developments in the treatment of hepatitis C in patients infected with HIV, more than 150 specialists national, mostly infectólogos, have gone to the Forum co-infection ” held in Madrid, and sponsored by Roche. He made promising data for patients co-infected with, and experts have exposed experiences in the treatment of this type of patient and have formulated recommendations for this disease.

Of the 130,000 infected by HIV in Spain, 30,000 suffer further virus hepatitis C (HCV); This disease is currently one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death in patients co-infected with, whose liver deteriorates faster than patients only affected by HIV, which highlights the importance of treating it as soon as possible with the available therapies.

In this regard, Dr. Vicente Soriano, researcher at the service of infectious diseases at the Hospital Carlos III de Madrid and coordinator of the co-infection Forum ”, has pointed out that the arrival of the new antiviral to combat hepatitis C represents a hope for the treatment of these patients, so far combined peginterferon and Ribavirin. Currently the treatment is based on the triple therapy with interferon Pegylated and Ribavirin, which are fundamental to obtain the desired objectives ”.

He has also indicated that one of the latest advances in treatment lies in the realization of the test of the IL28B all patients to be able to predict the response and thus optimize the results. Another novelty is the evaluation of the stage of fibrosis device non-invasive FibroScan ”, and not through the liver biopsy ”.

On the other hand, during the Forum co-infection ”, treating patients co-infected with studies of interest have been exposed. As said by the expert, these are very helpful in implementing the treatment in the most effective way possible ”. One of the revised during the Forum, has been the PERICO study, in which, with about 400 patients co-infected with, investigated whether the preventive administration of two induction with the administration of erythropoietin isaltas avoided the anemia and increased the effectiveness of the use of high doses of rivabirina – 2 grams a day.

The specialist anticipates that treatment for patients co-infected with research lines are directed towards medicine individualized, based on the identification of predictors of response to each patient and each therapeutic regimen, as well as to examine the efficacy and safety of new direct antiviral in patients co-infected with ”.

Anti-virals direct action

Progression to cirrhosis and liver terminal disease occur faster in the population coinfectada, therefore, encouraging data presented can help treat many patients co-infected with. However, these medications may be contraindicated to interact with other drugs and their use must be adequate and specific for each patient ”, said Dr. Soriano.

For this reason, and to achieve optimum results of these antiviral drugs, since the Panel International of co-infection of the International AIDS Society (IAS) has produced an a consensus document, whose main signer has been Dr. Soriano, who in turn is Chairman of this group.

About hepatitis C

The hepatitis C virus is known as the ‘ silent epidemic ’. The prevalence of this disease data place it as one of the epidemics of this century, in Spain affecting some 800,000 Spanish. The main causes of death associated with hepatitis C are (in 35% of cases) liver cirrhosis and cancer of the liver (in 32% of cases).

About Roche

Roche, based in Basel (Switzerland), is a leading international company in the sector diagnostic that prioritizes research and pharmaceutical health in areas. As the largest company, innovative products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, biotechnology worldwide, Roche contributes from different fronts to improve health and the quality of people’s lives. Roche is the world leader in medicines and Diagnostics for cancer and transplantation, as well as a leader in Virology; It also acts in other major therapeutic areas such as autoimmune, inflammatory, metabolic diseases and central nervous system.