Hepatitis B

AASLD Liver Meeting Starts this Weekend in Boston

The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) annual Liver Meeting is underway, running November 9-13 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. The AASLD meeting each fall and the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) International Liver Congress each spring are the premier events for presentation of the latest data on treatment for hepatitis B and C.

As has been the case for the past few years, hepatitis C presentations will emphasize direct-acting antiviral agents. Several studies provide further information about the approved HCV protease inhibitors boceprevir (Victrelis) and telaprevir (Incivek), including their use in difficult-to-treat populations including HIV/HCV coinfected people, patients with liver cirrhosis, and liver transplant recipients.

Numerous studies are looking at other pipeline agents in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, but the real excitement is focused on all-oral, interferon-free regimens, several of which are under investigation. New data will be presented for promising new drugs including asunaprevir, daclatasvir, danoprevir, mericitabine, simeprevir, sofosbuvir, ABT-333, ABT-450, BI 201335, BI 207127, BMS-791325, and MK-5172. However, some researchers will only present 4-week sustained virological response (SVR4) data, which may be too soon to determine if a regimen truly produces a lasting cure.

In the area of hepatitis B, researchers will present data on treatment for liver transplant recipients, the use of nucleoside/nucleotide analog with and without pegylated interferon, and the effect of HBV treatment on risk of developing liver cancer.

HIVandHepatitis.com, along with our partners at Aidsmap.com, will be reporting highlights from the conference starting on Sunday.

11/09/12