Antiviral therapy is effective in fighting hepatitis C | Letters

The Cochrane analysis casting doubt on this life-saving therapy is flawed and may deter patients from seeking it, say clinicians and scientistsWe are clinicians and scientists who have studied and treated patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection over many years and patient groups that represent those affected by hepatitis C. We write in response to your article on the effectiveness of antiviral therapy (Hepatitis ‘wonder drug’ may be clinically ineffective, say experts, 9 June). The Cochrane review that you highlight analysed clinical trials, which are by nature short term, where the sole purpose was to evaluate the virological efficacy of new antiviral drugs. The trials were neither designed, nor powered, to assess mortality, so it is hardly surprising that the Cochrane review was unable to identify any impact on mortality.Regulatory authorities and clinicians all recognise that clearing hepatitis C virus reduces mortality. Indeed, UK-based research demonstrates that oral antiviral treatment for patients with hepatitis C who also have cirrhosis substantially decreases mortality and morbidity (Cheung et al Journal of Hepatology 2016).Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Hepatitis C Health Pharmaceuticals industry Medical research Drugs Business Science UK news Society Source Type: news