New Hepatitis C Drug May Help Millions

New Hepatitis C Drug May Help Millions

The positive results in treating hepatitis C in the last years have been extremely promising. The medication used manages to cure nearly 70 percent of cases, however, the cost is sometimes extremely high, as side effects take a serious toll on patients in some instances causing liver failure or cancer.

This may all change as a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that a new drug has very promising results in curing the disease with minimal side effects.

Dr. Harry Janssen leads the study alongside colleagues from the University Health Network in Toronto where they tested the new drug on 27 people 9 of which were given a placebo.

Miravirsen is the name of the new drug that seems to have the potential to cure millions. It works unlike antibiotics and antivirals used currently as treatment. It is known as an RNA inference drug, and it works by using fragments of RNA to attack diseased cells.

The RNA acts like a sponge absorbing the RNA molecules from the diseased cells, and effectively killing them as they cannot survive without the RNA tissue.

Out of 9 patients that received the highest dosages, 4 were completely Hepatitis C free after just five injections.

Posted by George Daniels on Sunday March 31 2013, 1:51 AM EST. Ref: counselheal. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Health. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0