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Pegylated Interferon's, Improved Molecular Tools Brighten Potential Outcomes for Patients With Hepatitis


WASHINGTON, April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Treatment and outcomes for patients with chronic hepatitis (HCV) continues to improve with the recent approval of pegylated interferon. An expert panel, convened by the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) on Friday, April 6 met in Dallas, TX to discuss the most recent data in the field of hepatitis diagnosis and treatment.

With a huge expansion in scientific knowledge relating to diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis B and C, the ACG symposium brought together a scientific think tank of experts and thought leaders on hepatitis and liver disease. The American College of Gastroenterology is a physician organization of over 7500 gastrointestinal specialists, which has a strong focus toward clinical, patient treatment oriented issues. The prime
objective of the symposium was to prepare treatment approaches and recommendations, reflecting the latest scientific advances that could be applied by individual gastroenterologists as they encounter patients with hepatitis in their day-to- day practice.

The panel of 16 experts presented the most recent data on a number of recent developments relating to hepatitis. Hepatitis C is a chronic, debilitating disease of the liver that affects approximately 4 million individuals in the United States. Until recently, the success rate in treating and alleviating the symptoms and systemic ill effects of hepatitis has been in the range of 40%.

The recent conference compiled critical treatment data spanning new developments: (a) on molecular tools to measure response to therapy for Hepatitis C (e.g. TMA diagnostic test recently available through Bayer Diagnostics); (b) on two new pegylated interferon's (Roche's Pegasys and Schering's PEG Intron; and ways to optimize treatment outcomes for patients treated for chronic hepatitis C (i.e. Procrit for ribavirin induced hemolytic anemia).

Because of the critical advances in these new diagnostic and therapeutic advances, which it is believed may increase success rates by at least 30%, the results of the meeting will be sent to all 7500 ACG member physicians in the form of a CD-ROM, with other follow-up educational materials in the works.

The ACG was formed in 1932 to advance the scientific study and medical treatment of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The College promotes the highest standards in medical education and is guided by its commitment to meeting the needs of clinical gastroenterology practitioners.

SOURCE American College of Gastroenterology