Hepatitis C protease inhibitor therapy cost effective in some circumstances
by Michael Carter, 2012-02-21 11:00
First-line hepatitis C therapy which includes a protease inhibitor can be cost-effective, investigators show in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study showed that a triple combination of drugs including the cheaper of the newly-licensed protease inhibitors was most cost effective after screening for a gene associated with response to hepatitis C treatment and

Hepatitis C surpasses HIV as a cause of death in the US
by Michael Carter, 2012-02-21 10:50
Deaths in the US due to hepatitis C now exceed those caused by HIV, according to research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.  The study showed that there is a downward trend in HIV-related mortality, but incidence of deaths due to hepatitis C is increasing. “This analysis shows the rapidly increasing number of

Severe nevirapine rash linked to slow clearance of drug
by Carole Leach-Lemens, 2012-02-20 09:20
The risk of severe rash when taking the antiretroviral drug nevirapine is greater in women who clear the drug from their bloodstreams slowly, and clearance of the drug appears to be slower in African women, according to a pharmacokinetic analysis of the relationship between drug levels and severe nevirapine side-effects in a recent large trial

Australian gay men cautious about PrEP; most in need are the most interested
by Gus Cairns, 2012-02-17 17:40
Only just over one in four Australian gay men in a recent scientific survey described themselves as ‘willing’ to use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV. The others were either neutral about PrEP or unwilling to use it. Those who were willing to use PrEP were significantly more likely to have had unprotected anal sex with casual

UK guidelines on treatment of HIV in pregnancy give green light to efavirenz
by Keith Alcorn, 2012-02-17 11:10
New UK draft guidelines on the management of HIV infection in pregnant women recommend that efavirenz-based treatment should no longer be avoided in pregnant women or women who want to have a baby. Pregnant women were previously recommended to avoid efavirenz treatment, as were women hoping to become pregnant, due to the theoretical risk of birth



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