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IMPORTANT ADAP UPDATE

Expanded Access to Hepatitis C Virus Medications - Effective July 1, 2015, ADAP expanded access to hepatitis C virus (HCV) medications to include all HCV co-infected ADAP clients regardless of liver disease stage. This policy is in alignment with the federal Health and Human Services guidelines for the treating HCV coinfection among HIV-infected persons and the revised Deptartment of Verteran Affairs' HCV clinical guidelines, which recommend that all HIV/HCV co-infected patients be treated. Medi-cal also expanded access to all HIV/HCV co-infected beneficiaries, regardless of liver disease stage.

HEPATITIS (HCV) A, B C, D and E


          Hepatitis C is an infectious disease affecting primarily the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years. In some cases, those with cirrhosis will go on to develop liver failure, liver cancer, or life-threatening esophageal and gastric varices.

          HCV is spread primarily by blood-to-blood contact associated with intravenous drug use, poorly sterilized medical equipment, and transfusions. An estimated 150–200 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C. The existence of hepatitis C (originally identifiable only as a type of non-A non-B hepatitis) was suggested in the 1970s and proven in 1989.[5] Hepatitis C infects only humans and chimpanzees. It is one of five known hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D, and E.

          The virus persists in the liver in about 85% of those infected. This chronic infection can be treated with medication: the standard therapy is a combination of peginterferon and ribavirin, with either boceprevir or telaprevir added in some cases. Overall, 50–80% of people treated are cured. Those who develop cirrhosis or liver cancer may require a liver transplant. Hepatitis C is the leading reason for liver transplantation, though the virus usually recurs after transplantation. No vaccine against hepatitis C is available.

          To find out more about Hepatitis A, B C, D and E, CLICK HERE

HCV Treatment

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infects the liver and may cause abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Usually the infection gets better on its own without requiring treatment. In some cases, however, individuals may have lasting damage to their livers or may have such severe nausea and vomiting that they must be admitted to the hospital.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause a lifelong infection but can be treated with antiviral medications. People with HBV infection will need to see a liver specialist with experience treating individuals with chronic liver disease. These individuals need to take special care not to pass on the virus to their sexual partners, and sexual partners should receive hepatitis B vaccine if not already immune.

Hepatitis C virus can cause immediate illness affecting the liver or, more commonly, it can be a silent, chronic infection. As with hepatitis B, individuals with HCV may have a lifelong infection and will always be at risk of passing the virus on to their sexual partners. New treatments are available that can clear the infection in some individuals.

No More Injections for People With Hep C /  Two new all-oral regimens improve Hepatitis C treatment

(SOURCE: hivplusmag.com) People with hepatitis C, a common coinfection with HIV, have just gotten more medication choices, and unlike earlier treatments, the new ones don’t need to be accompanied by interferon injections. They build on the success of two drugs first approved in 2013, Sovaldi and Olysio.
          In the fall the Food and Drug Administration approved two all-oral treatments. Harvoni, from Gilead Sciences, combines its highly successful Sovaldi medication (generic name sofosbuvir) with a drug called ledipasvir. The tablet is to be taken once daily for a duration of eight, 12, or 24 weeks, depending on prior treatment history. In three Phase III studies, it achieved cure rates of 94 to 99 percent, according to Gilead.
          The FDA also gave the green light to physicians to prescribe Janssen Therapeutics’ hep C drug Olysio along with Sovaldi. Some doctors have already been prescribing them together, but many were reluctant to do so without the FDA’s blessing. The latest action clears up any uncertainty. The two drugs are taken for either 12 or 24 weeks, depending on the patient. Studies showed cure rates of 93 to 97 percent. In addition to allowing patients to skip the interferon injections, which can cause flu-like symptoms, the new regimens don’t require the use of another antiviral drug, ribivarin. Experts estimate that one quarter of all people with HIV have the hepatitis C virus as well, and one half of all HIV-infected injection-drug users. If left untreated, the hep C virus can result in life-threatening complications such as cirrhosis and cancer.

HIV Is No Major Barrier to Hep C Treatment Success

Recent trials of the latest hepatitis C virus (HCV) medications have brought more good news for people coinfected with HCV and HIV, showing hep C cure rates comparably high to those seen in studies including people who only have HCV. In one study, Gilead Sciences’ Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir) cured hep C in 96 percent of 335 coinfected participants, of whom 98 percent had genotype 1 of HCV and 2 percent had genotype 4.  In another trial, AbbVie’s Viekira Pak (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir; dasabuvir) cured 92 percent of 63 people coinfected with genotype 1. READ FULL STORY