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Friday, August 4, 2017
Treatment:
This last week saw the approval in the U.S. of AbbVie’s Mavyret, a pangenotypic also indicated as recuperation therapy for those with GT1 who have failed treatment with DAAs. U.S.: FDA approves Mavyret for Hepatitis C
As well, the FDA has approved updated labeling for Epclusa to include use in patients co-infected with HIV. U.S. FDA Approves Expanded Labeling for Epclusa® (Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir) for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in Patients Co-Infected with HIV.
And in what looks to be a major development, the World Health Organization has approved the first generic version of sofosbuvir. This development could expand access to treatment by increasing the number of quality-assured generic medicines in the market. Sofosbuvir, a 400mg tablet, is manufactured by Mylan Laboratories Ltd India. The thing to notice is the “quality-assured” bit. Now, just asking: Will Canada and the USA recognize this designation? Or is WHO quality really “third world” quality to the “first world” corporatists? WHO approves generic drug to treat hepatitis C
Canada:
Prisons – In short, “All federal inmates with HCV eligible for treatment,” is the big news. This is because there will be a vast increase in spending on treatment for the estimated 2700 federal inmates infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Correctional Service Canada (CSC) has a treatment budget for 2017-18 of $16.5 million, nearly four times the amount budgeted in 2010, according to Ivan Zinger, the Correctional Investigator of Canada. Dramatic budget increase for Hepatitis treatment in federal prisons.
Saskatchewan – Did you know that there is no official number for how many people are living with the HCV in Saskatchewan? However, Dr. Alex Wong estimates the number at anywhere from 15,000 up to 25,000. According to Wong, only 350 prescriptions were written for people with hepatitis C in 2016, but this could be changing. Sask. doctor concerned about ‘shockingly low’ number of hepatitis C patients being treated.
British Columbia – The BC Centre for Disease Control has recently published BC HCV disease burden estimates. The model uses a system dynamic framework and projects out the number of infections, decompensated cirrhosis, liver cancers, overall and liver related mortality over time. Be sure to check it out! Modeling Estimates for HCV Related Disease Projections in British Columbia.
Tainted Blood – The tainted blood scandal of the 1980s that infected thousands of Canadians with HIV and Hepatitis C is getting the miniseries treatment. SundanceTV announced. The drama centers on the real-life 1980s scandal during which time thousands contracted HIV and Hepatitis C from tainted blood. SundanceTV and CBC Team for Tainted Blood Scandal Miniseries ‘Unspeakable’.
Catching Up:
We were so busy with WHD that we never got around to posting some of our great photos from previous events. So, if you’d like to see what HepCBC has been doing (Pride, WHD), here are some links: