Hepatitis 'C' cure coined "biggest breakthrough ever"
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Reported by: Melissa Garcia Email: MelissaGarcia@woaitv.com
Print Story Published: 6/23 4:27 pm Share Updated: 6/24 7:14 am
SAN ANTONIO -- Researchers say it's the biggest breakthrough in Hepatitis C treatment ever made: A new medication just approved by the F.D.A. nearly doubles the cure rate, according to worldwide clinical trials. Much of the groundbreaking research took place in San Antonio, at Alamo Medical Research.
The pharmaceutical drug "Incivek" started hitting pharmacies this week. Clinical trials at Alamo Medical Research over the last six years show that eight out of ten Hepatitis C patients who took the medication were cured.
Walker Croft, a Hepatitis C patient spoke with News 4 WOAI about how sick he was before getting the treatment.
"I was dying," commented Croft. "I felt like I was not going to live too much longer."
Croft contracted Hepatitis C from a blood transfusion in the 1970s. And like most people who are infected, he went decades without even knowing he had it.
"It's much more common than people think it is," said Croft. "And it kills you."
Thanks to the new medication, today Croft is cured.
"Incivek actually gets to the virus and stops it from replicating," explained Dr. Eric Lawitz, Medical Director at Alamo Medical Research. Lawitz is a worldwide leader in Hepatitis C research and treatment.
The deadly virus attacks the liver.
"It's a slow, silent epidemic," said Lawitz. "Over 20 or 30 years, it leads to progressive liver disease that results in cirrhosis, liver cancer, or liver failure."
Lawitz' findings show traditional Hepatitis C therapy, a combination of two medications, has a cure rate of 46%. But the addition of the anti-viral drug Incivek raises that rate up to 79%. For more than half of patients, the new drug also cuts the year-long, often unbearable treatment time in half.
"It's a one-two punch," said Lawitz. "About eight out of ten patients get cured."
That's good news not only for Croft, but also for the estimated 35,000 people in San Antonio who have the disease.
"I was driving around with my daughter and she said, you know daddy, it's really good to have you back," said Croft.
Doctors say the key to therapy is diagnosis. And the key to diagnosis is getting tested.
Dr. Lawitz will hold a free Hepatitis C screening event:
Saturday, August 13th
8am - 12pm
Alamo Medical Research
621 Camden St.
Second Floor
San Antonio, TX 78215
Phone: 210-253-3426
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