Hepatitis C Weekly News

Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi’s Viral Hepatitis Clinic cures 1,000th hepatitis C patient
“The Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi Viral Hepatitis Clinic has reached a milestone by curing its 1,000th patient of hepatitis C. “It’s a very satisfying thing to make that call and tell someone they’re cured,” said Rashmi Baragi, MD, director of the viral hepatitis clinic. “You can prevent so much damage to a patient from this infection.””

OHSU scientists develop first transgenic model for hepatitis B research
“Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have developed the first transgenic nonhuman primate model — genetically modified to carry a human gene — for studying hepatitis B virus. The breakthrough could lead to the development of new treatments for the disease, which affects about 250 million people globally and results in nearly 1 million deaths annually.”

FDA Grants Fast Track Designation to Amezalpat for Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
“Key Takeaways: Amezalpat has received FDA fast track designation for hepatocellular carcinoma, enhancing its development following orphan drug designation. Positive phase 1b/2 trial results showed improved survival and response rates with amezalpat combined with atezolizumab and bevacizumab.”

DAA, Interferon HCV Treatments Result in Similar Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk
“Key Takeaways: DAA therapy reduces de novo HCC risk in HCV-related cirrhosis compared to no treatment, but is similar to IFN therapy. High SVR rates with DAAs do not eliminate HCC risk, highlighting the need for continued monitoring.”

16th person in Penobscot County tests positive for HIV
“The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced the positive test earlier this month. It is the latest case in the county’s active HIV cluster, and comes less than a month after the state reported the 15th positive case of HIV. All 16 of the people also tested positive for hepatitis C and reported injecting drugs within a year of being diagnosed, the Maine CDC reported. Fourteen of the 16 people were also unhoused in the last year, and 10 of the 16 were linked to care within 30 days of their diagnosis.”

Global progress, challenges and strategies in eliminating public threat of viral hepatitis
“The problem caused by viral hepatitis is a major public health challenge faced in the past decade, and the global goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030 is still far away. With the use of hepatitis B vaccine and the launch of new drugs, there are more means to control viral hepatitis and more technologies to prevent, diagnose and treat it.”

Challenges remain a decade after HIV crisis in southern Indiana
“A major setback came in 2021, when Scott County Commissioners voted to end a needle exchange program that was established in response to the outbreak.”

People Who Use Drugs Among Victims of Trump’s Assault on USAID
“On January 30, employees at SANPUD (South African Network of People Who Use Drugs) received a letter informing them that they’d soon get their last paychecks. The organization, which worked with fellow nonprofit TB HIV Care, had been forced to halt operations—part of a global freeze imposed on groups receiving United States humanitarian aid. Some 5,000 people were being served by TB HIV CARE and SANPUD at two harm reduction sites in eastern South Africa—depending on them for access to resources including sterile syringes and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD).”

Virtual clinic for liver diseases opens to US patients
“The LiverRight Hepatology Clinic offers same-week video visits to adults who have been diagnosed with a liver disease or who need a diagnosis. Through appointments at the clinic, patients will be able to get referrals for blood tests and liver imaging, as well as medications that can help treat these diseases. The clinic is available to patients in all 50 states.”

For Martinez and La Bodega, recognition is a testament to people making it possible
“When Anthony Martinez, MD, launched an inventive hepatology center within ECMC in 2013, he wasn’t trying to create a globally renowned initiative to treat a persistent issue or even earn accolades for doing it. He was simply trying to deliver treatment with humanity—and achieve effective results.”

Awareness month focuses on challenges for rural communities
“February is Rare Liver Diseases Month, and the Global Liver Institute (GLI) is promoting a series of activities and events to raise awareness of the long list of rare liver diseases, especially in rural areas where healthcare resources and education are limited.”

Liver cancer risk and changes in lifestyle habits after successful hepatitis C virus therapy post-DAA HCV therapy: lifestyle changes and liver cancer risk
“Conclusions: In this prospective cohort, successful HCV therapy was followed by significant changes in lifestyle habits translating into increases in BMI and alcohol consumption. These post-SVR changes raise concerns that the chemopreventive benefits of HCV cure may be counterbalanced by increased risks of liver disease progression and LC development from metabolic risk factors and alcohol use. Post-SVR, patients may benefit from intensive counseling and pharmacotherapy to address obesity and alcohol use.”

City releases report on Hepatitis, encourages residents to get tested
“The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has released its 2023 Annual Report on Hepatitis B, C, and D in the city. The report reveals that hepatitis B and C are present across all residential ZIP codes, contributing to cases of premature death and cancer among residents.”

Viral hepatitis elimination requires equitable public health approach
“Viral hepatitis is a major danger to public health. According to WHO’s 2024 Global Hepatitis Report, viral hepatitis deaths increased from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022, rates now similar to tuberculosis.”

A major step for HCV research
“The only natural host of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is humans. Model organisms for laboratory studies, especially mice, cannot be infected which makes the search for a vaccine against HCV extremely difficult because the protective effect cannot be tested directly. In order to understand why the virus cannot infect mice and to enable the development of new animal models, researchers at TWINCORE in Hannover have generated an adapted virus variant that can infect mouse liver cells in vitro. They have now published their work in the Journal of Hepatology Reports.”

HCV Cure Rate Quadruples With Peer-Assisted Telehealth
“Pills can cure infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), but getting the medication to patients who need treatment can be a challenge. Many patients with HCV use drugs such as methamphetamine or heroin and were exposed to the virus by sharing needles. Lack of housing, difficulty getting to appointments, and mistrust of the healthcare system are potential barriers to care.”

A single-site randomized controlled trial of partner navigation to HCV treatment for people who inject drugs: a study protocol for the You’re Empowered for Treatment Initiation (YETI) partner trial
“This trial will provide evidence of a new HCV treatment linkage intervention leveraging the support of primary injecting partners to initiate HCV treatment. If successful, the intervention could inform public health strategies and policies to address HCV in marginalized populations.”

Five-Year Prospective Follow-Up of Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Infection Treated with Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents
“Conclusion: Cirrhotic patients exhibited increased susceptibility to virological relapse, HCC, unfavorable prognosis, and liver disease progression following DAA treatment. Consequently, it is imperative to implement a rigorous monitoring protocol for all cirrhotic patients after DAA treatment.”

AGA releases updated guidelines on hepatitis B reactivation in patients on immunosuppressive drugs
“The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has unveiled an updated clinical practice guideline in Gastroenterology addressing the prevention and management of hepatitis B virus reactivation (HBVr) in patients on immunosuppressive drugs. The use of immunosuppressive drugs has increased significantly since 2013, according to data gathered via the National Health Interview Survey.”

Study: Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound May Improve LI-RADS Assessment of High-Risk Indeterminate Liver Lesions
“For patients previously assessed with LI-RADS LR-4 and LR-M presentations based on MRI or CT findings, the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound led to 30 percent of these patients having LR-5 assessments definitive for hepatocellular carcinoma.”

HCV-Positive Donor Kidneys Safe For Use in HCV-Negative Recipients, Study Finds
“Donor hepatitis C virus (HCV) positivity does not negatively impact 1-year rejection and mortality outcomes following renal transplantation in HCV-negative recipients, according to findings from a recent study.”

Study: Mid-Missouri overdose patients seldom tested for Hep C
“A recent analysis from the University of Missouri found that mid-Missourians visiting emergency room for opioid overdoses had high rates of hepatitis C positivity but low rates of being tested for the disease.”

Promising Results for Triplet Blockade Therapy in Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma
“A novel phase II study investigating the triplet blockade of IL-27, PD-(L)1, and VEGF pathways in unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) demonstrated encouraging antitumor activity and a manageable safety profile. Presented at the 2025 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium by Daneng Li, MD, of the City of Hope National Comprehensive Cancer Center, the study highlights the potential of the first-in-class IL-27–targeting antibody, casdozokitug (casdozo), combined with atezolizumab (atezo) and bevacizumab (bev), as a promising treatment strategy.”

Student view: My experience with the Leadership in Medicine for the Underserved program
“Juan Jimenez is a third-year student at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. As part of the Leadership in Medicine for the Underserved program, he recently completed an elective at Wellness Services in Flint, where he spent time learning about specialty HIV care and syringe service programs, and assisted staff in creating and distributing harm reduction kits for clients.”

A ‘perfect storm’ of mutations: How chronic hepatitis C infection leads to autoimmune disease
“Scientists at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research have discovered how a viral infection causes autoimmune disease, disproving a long-standing theory and opening a promising new approach to developing treatments for autoimmune conditions.”

The Second Trump White House Could Drastically Reshape Infectious Disease Research. Here’s What’s at Stake.
“Donald Trump’s pick to lead the federal health agency has vowed to replace hundreds of staffers and shift research away from infectious diseases and vaccines. Such an overhaul could imperil the development of life-saving treatments, experts warn.”

Letter: Maine needs overdose prevention centers now
“These centers save lives.”

Mark Cuban once helped his college friend save almost $10,000 on prescriptions after a ‘horrific car accident’
“Mark Cuban isn’t solely on a mission to lower the price of popular prescription medications you might purchase from your favorite pharmacy. The billionaire entrepreneur and cofounder of the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Co. wants to make so-called specialty drugs more accessible too.”

Needle Programs Need Second Look
“Whether it be willful ignorance or a genuine misunderstanding of the broad range of strategies necessary to tackle a dual public health crisis in Appalachia, elected officials and policymakers are handicapping efforts against one of the major dangers spawned by our region’s substance abuse epidemic.”

OHSU study shows how peers with lived experience can help in fight against hepatitis C
“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 2 million people in the U.S. are infected with hepatitis C. The bloodborne illness attacks the liver and can lead to cancer or death if left untreated. Injection drug use is the leading risk factor for hepatitis C, which is also more prevalent in rural counties where diagnosis and treatment can be hard to come by, especially for people experiencing homelessness.”

Woman infected with Hepatitis C — allegedly by Portland-area anesthesiologist during surgery — sues for $4M
“A Portland-area woman who claims the anesthesiologist in her 2021 hand surgery infected her with the potentially life-threatening Hepatitis C virus filed a $4 million lawsuit against Providence Health & Services and the Oregon Anesthesiology Group on Wednesday.”

Lipophilic Statins May Protect Against HCC In Select Liver Disease Patients
“Lipophilic statins are associated with reduced risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among patients with hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis, according to investigators. These findings also pave the way for new research into targeted therapies, personalized prevention strategies, and broader applications in high-risk populations, Erik Almazan, MD, and Raymond T. Chung, MD, of Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, reported.”

Attitudes and perspectives of healthcare workers on treating chronic hepatitis C infection in children and adolescents
“There are gaps in knowledge about the values and preferences of healthcare workers (HCW) with respect to treatment of children and adolescents living with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection. This study was carried out to identify these values and preferences as part of the evidence required to update World Health Organization (WHO) hepatitis C guidelines.”

In HCV, Starting Treatment Trumps Staging for Liver Fibrosis
“When managing patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV), initiating treatment of the infection promptly is more important than determining the severity of their liver disease with the customary staging tests, a study using microsimulation found.”

Orange County’s Needle Exchange Program is Finished
“After Santa Ana officials battled a needle exchange program from setting up shop within city limits again, the local substance abuse clinic has rescinded its application to operate in Orange County – ending a saga dating back to last year.”

Injection Drug Use and Immunodeficiency Linked to Failed Hepatitis C Treatment in People with HIV
“Leveraging data from the International Collaboration on Hepatitis C Elimination in HIV Cohorts (InCHEHC), the study found that although unsuccessful HCV treatment with DAAs was uncommon, it was more frequently observed among people with lower CD4+ cell counts, people with HCV genotype 4, and people who reported recently injecting drugs.”

Journey Back to Health After Hepatitis C
“When Kasey Jones, 37, a drug and alcohol counselor who now resides in Seattle, found out that she had hepatitis C in January 2022, her first reaction—like many who receive this diagnosis—was shock. Yet, the diagnosis of this condition, which can cause serious inflammation of the liver and lead to permanent damage to it from cirrhosis, did help explain some seemingly subtle, mysterious symptoms she’d been dealing with for over one year.”

Hepatology Year in Review: 2024
“2024 was nothing short of historic for the field of hepatology, characterized by groundbreaking regulatory decisions, pivotal clinical advancements, and significant strides in understanding liver disease.”

405 nm violet-blue light inactivates hepatitis C cell culture virus (HCVcc) in ex vivo human platelet concentrates and plasma
“Added safety measures coupled with the development and use of pathogen reduction technologies (PRT) significantly reduces the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) from blood products.”

CDC and SAMHSA Leaders Encourage HIV and Viral Hepatitis Testing in Substance Use Disorder Treatment
“In a new joint letter, the leaders of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) encourage the public health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment communities to increase the number of people with SUD who are tested and treated for HIV and viral hepatitis.”

West Virginia Collegiate Recovery Network partners with CHESS Health on hepatitis C digital initiative
“The Live(r) Hep C Free program, an initiative of the West Virginia Collegiate Recovery Network (WVCRN) housed within the Marshall University Research Corporation, is partnering with CHESS Health to deploy its digital contingency management platform that uses a series of reinforcements and rewards for meeting treatment goals”

Hearts From Donors Infected with Hepatitis C Are Safe for Transplant, Study Shows
“A new study by Cleveland Clinic researchers confirms that hearts from hepatitis C-positive donors are safe to use for transplants long-term. The study, which followed patients over a four-year period, found no differences in mortality between patients who received healthy and infected hearts. Cardiac events and other adverse outcomes were also similar.”

Hepatitis C and mental health: Using peer support to fight stigma
“Hepatitis C (HCV) is a blood-borne virus that is most commonly acquired by people who inject drugs. If left untreated, HCV can cause cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure and liver cancer. Unfortunately, due to its most common transmission routes (the sharing of unsterile injecting equipment), hepatitis C is also a stigmatised disease. As such, people who use drugs with a HCV diagnosis face multi-layered stigma, often seen as instruments of contagion, rather than those deserving of care.”

Older age, not comorbidity, linked to worse survival in hepatocellular carcinoma
“Receipt of curative treatment was associated with high comorbidity but not older age. Older age was associated with worse survival in early-stage disease and among treated patients.”

Lawmakers Set To Unveil Subscription Model For Hep C Treatment That Saves $6 Billion
“A bipartisan Senate duo will soon unveil a bill to create a national subscription-type model for hepatitis C treatment that would save over $6 billion. While the lawmakers had hoped it would be folded into a lame-duck package, the bill will likely be used as a payfor in the next Congress. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) told Inside Health Policy Thursday (Dec. 12) the details of the bill are “pretty much wrapped up now” and the bill saves over…”

Immunodeficiency, Injection Drug Use Linked to Failed HCV Treatment in People with HIV
“Key Takeaways – Direct-acting antivirals achieve a 95% success rate in treating HCV among HIV patients, but 5% experience unsuccessful treatment. Lower CD4+ cell counts, HCV genotype 4, and recent injection drug use are linked to higher odds of unsuccessful treatment.”

Though some are finding resilience after hepatitis C cure, others still put testing off
“LEWISTON — Looking back, Rosie Boyce does not recall experiencing many symptoms from her hepatitis C infections. With her body clearing it once on its own in 2009, she was surprised to learn she had become infected again years later when she was tested in 2015.”

Hepatitis C in Australia has more than halved in less than a decade, says report
“In 2023, there were an estimated 68,890 people living with hepatitis C in Australia, down 58% from 162,590 at the end of 2015, according to a new report released by the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney.”

Prison needle exchanges in Canada save an estimated $2 in infection-treatment costs for every $1 spent
“Every dollar spent on Canada’s Prison Needle Exchange Programs (PNEPs) saves an estimated $2 in treatment costs for hepatitis C and injection-related infections, supporting their expansion to all 43 federal prisons, Canadian and Australian researchers report today in CMAJ.”