The Hepatitis C Support Project has compiled a list of the top eleven hepatitis C news stories of 2005. It's a good list, and I'll be posting about several of these stories in more detail over the next few weeks. For now, here's their list (HCSP says they've listed news stories in alphabetical order, and not necessarily order of importance):
1. Saliva-based test developed for hepatitis C
2. HCV replicated in a test tube
3. Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention Act
4. HIV/HCV Coinfection Treatment Guidelines
5. Needle Exchange
6. Pegasys plus Copegus FDA Approved for HCV Treatment in HIV/HCV Coinfected Patients
7. Revised Estimate on HCV Infection in the U.S.
8. Schering's Protease Inhibitor
9. Valeant's Viramidine
10. Valopicitabine
11. VX-950
Click on the link above for HCSP's summaries of these news stories, and watch for more details on this weblog.
2005 certainly was an exciting year in terms of HCV news. From my point of view I would have to say the saliva based HCV testing excites me more than any of the rest of the news. My second choice would be the ability to culture HCV in a test tube. I recently attended the Viral Hepatitis Conference this past December in Washington, D.C. I went with the expectation of getting the latest on HCV and was somewhat disappointed in that respect. What did not disappoint was the opportunity to advocate on the hill with some incredible folks, meet some people face to face that had existed only in email previously (some of whom I'd known that way for many years), and attend a few presentations that did not disappoint. One of those was A Video-based HCV Educational Curriculum for High-Risk Drug Users (168) Diana L. Sylvestre; MD; O.A.S.I.S
Yesterday I received the OASIS DVD and it lived up to all my expectations. I was very impressed during the viewing at the conference and am looking forward to using it in my presentations. Highly recommended.
Peace,
Mike
Posted by: Mike Bunyard | January 19, 2006 at 04:42 PM
Have you seen the movie "Factor 8" by Kelly Duda?
It is about the spread of tainted blood from Arkansas prisons to Canada and other places as well. Very upsetting. Thanks. Pam
Posted by: Pam | October 20, 2006 at 02:13 PM