Research presented at Digestive Disease Week? 2007 (DDW?) demonstrates the potential of statins, important cholesterol management therapies, for improving the management of hepatitis C ? a disease that affects nearly four million Americans.
Although there have been no new treatments for hepatitis C since the introduction of pegylated interferon in 2001, the opportunity to develop a new generation of therapies that offer better outcomes may be imminent.
DDW is the largest international gathering of physicians and researchers in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.
“Studies such as these are designed to improve the effectiveness of antivirals ? the standard of care therapy for hepatitis C,” said John Vierling, M.D., Baylor College of Medicine. “The findings from these studies support the rationale and need for larger, controlled trials that may provide additional and more advantageous hepatitis C treatment options.”