HCV News
Week Ending 06/08/2015
Woman sues Anthem Blue Cross for denying hepatitis C drug Harvoni
'The virus could win. It wants to do to Shima Andre what it already has done to so many thousands of people worldwide: Drain her of energy. Change the color of her skin. Make her panic when she feels a pain on her right side.But the 42-year-old West Hollywood woman with hepatitis C said there's a sure-fire weapon on the market that could help her fight and kill the virus.'
Hepatitis virus variations responsible for variations in liver cancer
'Significant clinical variations exist among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer. These variations depend on the viral cause of the disease, which can be hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV). These differences suggest that hepatitis status should be considered when developing treatment plans for patients with newly diagnosed HCC. These findings were presented at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.'
Southern Illinois sees shocking rise of Hepatitis C
'Cases of Hepatitis C -- a blood borne virus that attacks the liver and is spread via shared drug needles, unsterile tattoos and other means -- are on the rise. It's a "silent epidemic" waiting to strike many unsuspecting Baby Boomers and young adults, health officials warn, because the liver has a long memory. Even if you have forgotten what you did this past weekend, or in the freewheeling 1970s, your liver did not.'
Experts: Fight Hepatitis C epidemic with more testing, caps for co-pays
'With mounting evidence that many public and private health plans are deliberately rationing care for Americans with the hepatitis C virus ( HCV ), those on the front lines in fighting viral hepatitis and HIV/AIDS today urged lawmakers to overturn state Medicaid and managed care policies that discourage testing, add prior authorization requirements on clinicians, and create significant hurdles for patients to receive new curative treatments - all contributing to only 5% to 6% of individuals with HCV being successfully treated.'
Reinfection after hepatitis C cure: prevention may require long-term support for people who have injected drugs
'Reinfection rates after hepatitis C cure among people who inject drug users, as well as past drug users, are relatively low, according to findings from studies from Norway and Canada presented at the International Liver Congress in Vienna in April. The findings suggest that current and former injecting drug users who have been cured of hepatitis C require ongoing support to remain free of hepatitis C, but also indicate that fears of a high rate of reinfection should not be used as a reason to withhold hepatitis C treatment from people who inject drugs.'
Appalachia's hepatitis C infection rates soar
'An increase in the abuse of injectable drugs has caused hepatitis C infection rates to more than triple in four Appalachian states, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rates were highest among people under age 30, mostly in rural areas, in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, according to the May report, which looked at health data from 2006 to 2012.'
Hedge Fund Billionaires Are New Target for Hepatitis C Cure Protests
'The New York City home and offices of former hedge fund manager Julian H. Robertson were targeted by protest groups in a series of simultaneous direct actions in early May. Robertson is ranked No. 512 on Forbes' list of "the world's billionaires" with a reported net worth of $3.4 billion. "Robertson is making a killing off of people with Hep C," read one sign.'
