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  • Hepatitis B Foundation hosts Princeton Workshop on Liver Cancer

    Lewis Roberts, MB, ChB, PhD, Mayo Clinic professor of medicine, (right, foreground) was one of attendees at the 2022 Princeton Workshop The Hepatitis B Foundation hosted 30 top scientists and physicians from across the U.S. for a day-long meeting April 28 on "Liver Cancer Risk, Prevention and Early Detection: Challenges and Opportunities to Improve Outcomes." It was the 2022 Princeton Workshop, which was held first in 1995 in Princeton, N.J.  This year's co-chairs were Chari Cohen, DrPH, MPH, senior vice president of the Hepatitis B Foundation, and Brian McMahon, MD, scientific and medical director of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. Participants are affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania and other leading research and health care institutions. You can read about the history here. About Hepatitis B:  The most common serious liver infection in the world, it is caused by the hepatitis B virus, which attacks and injures the liver. Each year up to 1 million people die from hepatitis B worldwide, even though it is preventable and treatable. The number of adults living in the U.S. who have chronic hepatitis B infection may be as high as 2.4 million, which is nearly three times greater than the federal government’s official estimate, according to a new report by a team of public health experts, scientists and physicians. Hepatitis B is a “silent epidemic” because most people do not have symptoms when they are newly or chronically infected. Thus, they can unknowingly infect others and continue the spread of hepatitis B. For people who are chronically infected but don’t have any symptoms, their livers are still being silently damaged, which can develop into serious liver disease such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. About the Hepatitis B Foundation: We are the nation’s leading nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. Founded in 1991, the Hepatitis B Foundation is based in Doylestown, Pa., with an office in Washington, D.C. To learn more, go to www.hepb.org, read our blog at hepb.org/blog, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@hepbfoundation) or call us at 215-489-4900. To donate, contact Jean Holmes at 215-489-4900 or jean.holmes@hepb.org.

    https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/hepatitis-b-foundation-hosts-princeton-workshop-on-liver-cancer/
  • Canadian scientist chosen for the 2022 Hepatitis B Foundation’s Blumberg Prize

    Doylestown, Nov. 22, 2021 – The Hepatitis B Foundation, a global nonprofit organization based in Doylestown, Pa., today announced that D. Lorne Tyrrell, MD, PhD, Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and the University of Alberta, has been chosen as the recipient of its 2022 Baruch S. Blumberg Prize for outstanding contributions to advance the science and medicine of hepatitis B. “The hepatitis B community owes a tremendous debt to Dr. Tyrrell for his pioneering work on the basic science and clinical development of new therapeutics for chronic hepatitis B,” said Hepatitis B Foundation President and Co-founder Timothy S. Block, PhD. “Most notable are some of Dr. Tyrrell’s initial studies with lamivudine and his role in the development of critical experimental systems that have become essential to developing and understanding the biology and virology of the hepatitis B virus and development of new antivirals.” Dr. Tyrrell also played a key role in development of the KMT mouse, Dr. Block pointed out, which has been a major research asset to scientists working in hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B. The Baruch S. Blumberg Prize is the Hepatitis B Foundation’s highest honor. Considered to be the “Nobel Prize” for hepatitis B research, the award is named for Baruch S. Blumberg, MD, DPhil, who received the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 1976 for discovering the hepatitis B virus. Dr. Blumberg died in 2011 and the Foundation’s research arm, the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, is named in his honor. A committee of former Blumberg Prize recipients annually selects a new honoree. Past recipients include Dr. Harvey Alter, who was among the winners of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology; Dr. Anna Lok, assistant dean for clinical research, University of Michigan Medical School; and Dr. John Taylor, professor emeritus, Fox Chase Cancer Center.   D. Lorne Tyrrell, MD, PhD  (Photo by John Ulan)   “Lorne Tyrrell pioneered the use of nucleoside analogs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection,” said Francis V. Chisari, M.D. Professor Emeritus, Scripps Research Institute, and 2007 recipient of the Blumberg Prize. “His work led to the development of lamivudine, which he showed was safe and dramatically effective in chronic hepatitis B infected chimpanzees and, ultimately, in human clinical trials. We can thank Professor Tyrrell for spearheading the conception, development and clinical application of the first orally administered antiviral drug against hepatitis B that suppresses viral replication, reduces the risk of developing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and has saved the lives of countless patients over the past several decades.” Dr. Tyrrell is the founding director of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology at the University of Alberta. He has focused his research on viral hepatitis for more than 30 years. His efforts to develop an antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B, which was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Glaxo Canada, led to the licensing of lamivudine, first oral antiviral agent to treat hepatitis B, in 1998. In a fascinating coincidence that impacted Dr. Tyrrell’s career, he was a post-doctoral researcher at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm in 1976 when Dr. Blumberg was awarded the Nobel Prize. Not only did Dr. Tyrrell listen in-person to the Nobel lecture by Dr. Blumberg, he was able to attend the Nobel Prize award ceremony. That sparked his long-time research focus on hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B. “For that reason, the Blumberg Prize has always been special in my view, so this is a tremendous honor and I’m extremely pleased and proud and humbled,” Dr. Tyrrell said, adding, “I’ve always had a great admiration for Joan and Tim Block, and what they have done for people around the world who are living with hepatitis B.” Joan Block, RN, BSN, co-founded the Hepatitis B Foundation, along with her husband and Janine and Paul Witte, 30 years ago. She served as its executive director until retiring in 2017. Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta from 1994 to 2004, Dr. Tyrrell has received numerous prestigious awards such as an Officer of the Order of Canada, the Gold Medal of the Canadian Liver Foundation (2000), Fellow of the Royal Society (2004) and the EnCana Principal Award, Manning Innovation Awards (2005). He was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame in April 2011 and received the Killam Prize in Health Sciences in May 2015. Currently, Dr. Tyrrell serves on the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force advising the Canadian government on the selection of COVID-19 vaccines based on efficacy, safety and timely availability for Canada. About Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is the most common serious liver infection in the world. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus that attacks and injures the liver. Each year up to 1 million people die from hepatitis B worldwide, even though it is preventable and treatable. Hepatitis B is a “silent epidemic” because most people do not have symptoms when they are newly or chronically infected. Thus, they can unknowingly infect others and continue the spread of hepatitis B. For people who are chronically infected but don’t have any symptoms, their livers are still being silently damaged, which can develop into serious liver disease such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. About the Hepatitis B Foundation: We are the nation’s leading nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. Founded in 1991, the Hepatitis B Foundation is based in Doylestown, Pa., with an office in Washington, D.C. To learn more, go to www.hepb.org and www.hepb30years.org, read our blog at hepb.org/blog, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@hepbfoundation) or call us at 215-489-4900. To donate, contact Jean Holmes at 215-489-4900 or jean.holmes@hepb.org.

    https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/canadian-scientist-chosen-for-the-2022-hepatitis-b-foundations-blumberg-prize/
  • Witte Lecture

    The 2022 Bruce Witte Lecture, "HBV: expanding treatments guidelines: where are we and where are we going?" presented by Robert G. Gish, MD.   Thank you to all who attended on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022. If you were not able to tune in, here is the video:  The slides from the presentation can be found here.  About Dr. Gish: Robert G. Gish, MD, is the principal of Robert G. Gish Consultants LLC, a medical consulting company for liver and liver transplant programs, diagnostics and therapeutics companies that operate in the liver disease and liver health space. Medical Director at the University of California, San Diego, Health Systems from 2010 to 2013 in the Center for Hepatobiliary Disease and Abdominal Transplantation, Dr. Gish also was a Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCSD during that period. From 2014 to 2019, he served at Stanford University with major roles in outreach programs. He currently is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Nevada Las Vegas and Reno, and Professor of Medicine at Loma Linda University. He serves as an Adjunct Professor of Pharmacy at Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at UCSD. Dr. Gish also is Medical Director of the Hepatitis B Foundation. Dr. Gish received his medical degree from the University of Kansas Medical School in 1980 after an undergraduate program in Pharmaceutical Sciences. He completed a three-year Residency in Internal Medicine at the UCSD, and a fellowship in Gastroenterology at UCLA, during which time he was awarded the National Institutes of Health Physician Scientist Award. Dr. Gish has an active research program in viral hepatitis. He has published more than 600 original articles, abstracts, and book chapters, and more than 120 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Gish also is actively involved in numerous professional societies, such as the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases since 1984 and the American Society of Transplant since 1995. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians as well as 10+ other national and international organizations. Dr. Gish’s participation in various San Francisco and San Diego Hep B Free campaign activities has led to the screening of over 6,000 people for viral hepatitis. He also has a major interest in Vietnam and the Philippines and co-authored a Vietnamese public health policy for liver health. About the Witte Lecture:  The Witte Lectureship was established by Hepatitis B Foundation Cofounders, Janine and Paul Witte, in remembrance of their son, Bruce, to allow for a distinguished leader in the field to visit the Hepatitis B Foundation and Blumberg Institute to make a presentation and meet with scientists and public health leaders. It is the HBF's most important named lecture. Previous Witte Lecturers include: Harvey Alter (Nobel Prize laureate), Frank Chisari, Charles Rice (Nobel Prize laureate), John Taylor, John Gerin, Raymond Schinazi, Raymond Dwek, Rafi Ahmed, Adrian DiBisceglie, Steve Locarnini, Dennis Liotta, John Martin, Stanley Lemon and Marion Peters​​​​​​​.

    https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/witte-lecture/
  • اختبارات الدم لتشخيص المصابين بفيروس التهاب الكبد "ب"

      Is there a blood test for hepatitis B?There is a simple hepatitis B blood test that your doctor or health clinic can order called the “hepatitis B blood panel”. This blood sample can be taken in the doctor’s office. There are 3 common tests that make up this blood panel. Sometimes the doctor may ask to check your blood again six months after your first visit to confirm your hepatitis B status. If you think you have been recently infected with hepatitis B, it can take up to 9 weeks before the virus will be detected in your blood.Understanding your hepatitis B blood test results can be confusing, so you want to be sure about your diagnosis – are you infected with hepatitis B, have you recovered from a hepatitis B infection, or do you have a chronic hepatitis B infection? In addition, it is helpful if you request a written copy of your blood tests so that you fully understand which tests are positive or negative. What three tests make up the "hepatitis B blood panel"? The hepatitis B blood panel requires only one blood sample but includes three tests that are needed to make a final diagnosis: HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) HBsAb or anti-HBs (hepatitis B surface antibody) HBcAb or anti-HBc (hepatitis B core antibody) What is the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)? A "positive" or “reactive” HBsAg test result means that the person is infected with the hepatitis B virus, which can be an "acute" or a "chronic" infection. Infected people can pass the virus on to others through their blood. What is the hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb or anti-HBs)?A "positive" or “reactive” HBsAb (or anti-HBs) test result indicates that a person has either successfully responded to the hepatitis B vaccine or has recovered from an acute hepatitis B infection. This result (along with a negative HbsAg result) means that you are immune to (protected from) a future hepatitis B infection. What is the hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb)?The HBcAb is an antibody that is part of the virus- it does not provide protection. A "positive" or "reactive" HBcAb (or anti-HBc) test result indicates a past or present infection. The interpretation of this test result depends on the results of the other two tests. Its appearance with the protective surface antibody (positive HBsAb or anti-HBs) indicates prior infection and recovery. For chronically infected persons, it will usually appear with the virus (positive HBsAg).   هل يوجد اختبار دم لتشخيص المصابين بالتهاب الكبد "ب"؟ قد يطلب طبيبك أو عيادتك الصحية إجراء اختبارات دم بسيطة لفيروس التهاب الكبد "ب"، تسمى "فحوصات الدم الخاصة بالتهاب الكبد (ب)". ويمكن سحب عينة الدم هذه في عيادة الطبيب. تتكون فحوصات الدم هذه من 3 اختبارات شائعة. قد يطلب الطبيب في بعض الأحيان إجراء فحص الدم مرة أخرى بعد ستة أشهر من زيارتك الأولى للتأكد من حالة الإصابة بالتهاب الكبد "ب". إذا كنت تعتقد أنك قد أصبت مؤخرًا بفيروس التهاب الكبد "ب"، فقد يستغرق الأمر ما يصل إلى 9 أسابيع قبل اكتشاف الفيروس في دمك. قد يكون فهْم نتائج اختبار الدم لفيروس التهاب الكبد "ب" محيرًا بعض الشيء، لذا يجب أن تكون متأكدًا من تشخيصك – وهناك أسئلة مهمة لا بُد أن تضعها في اعتبارك مثل: هل أنت مصاب بفيروس التهاب الكبد "ب"؟ أم هل تعافيت من عدوى فيروس التهاب الكبد "ب"؟ أم أن لديك عدوى مزمنة بفيروس التهاب الكبد "ب"؟ علاوة على ذلك، من المفيد أن تطلب نسخة مكتوبة من اختبارات الدم حتى تتمكن من فهم أي الاختبارات إيجابية وأيها سلبية. ما الاختبارات الثلاثة التي تشكل "فحوصات الدم الخاصة بالتهاب الكبد (ب)"؟  تتطلب فحوصات الدم الخاصة بالتهاب الكبد "ب" سحب عينة دم واحدة فقط، ولكنها تتضمن ثلاثة اختبارات لازمة لتحديد التشخيص النهائي: المستضد السطحي لالتهاب الكبد "ب" (HBsAg) الجسم المضاد السطحي لالتهاب الكبد "ب" (HBsAb أو anti-HBs) الجسم المضاد الأساسي لالتهاب الكبد "ب" (HBcAb أو anti-HBc) ما المستضد السطحي لالتهاب الكبد "ب" (HBsAg)؟  تعني نتيجة اختبار المستضد السطحي لالتهاب الكبد "ب" (HBsAg) "الإيجابية" أو "النشطة" أن الشخص مصاب بفيروس التهاب الكبد "ب"، وأن العدوى قد تكون "حادة" أو "مزمنة". يمكن للأشخاص المصابين نقل الفيروس إلى الآخرين عن طريق الدم. ما الجسم المضاد السطحي لالتهاب الكبد "ب" (HBsAb أو anti-HBs)؟ تشير نتيجة اختبار الأجسام المضادة السطحية لالتهاب الكبد "ب" HBsAb (أو anti-HBs) "الإيجابية" أو "النشطة" إلى أن الشخص إما استجاب بنجاح للقاح التهاب الكبد "ب" أو أنه قد تعافى من عدوى التهاب الكبد "ب" الحادة. وتعني هذه النتيجة (بالإضافة إلى نتيجة HbsAg السلبية) أنك محصن ضد (محميّ من) عدوى التهاب الكبد "ب" في المستقبل. ما الجسم المضاد الأساسي لالتهاب الكبد "ب" (HBcAb)؟ إن الأجسام المضادة الأساسية لالتهاب الكبد "ب" (HBcAb) عبارة عن أجسام مضادة تُشكل جزءًا من الفيروس - وهي غير قادرة على توفير الحماية. تشير نتيجة اختبار HBcAb (أو anti-HBc) "الإيجابية" أو "النشطة" إلى وجود إصابة سابقة أو حالية. ويعتمد تفسير نتيجة هذا الاختبار على نتائج الاختبارين الآخرين. ويشير ظهوره مع الجسم المضاد السطحي الواقي (HBsAb أو anti-HBs الإيجابي) إلى وجود إصابة سابقة والتعافي من الفيروس. وبالنسبة للمصابين بعدوى مزمنة، فإنه سيَظهر عادةً مع وجود إصابة بالفيروس (HBsAgإيجابي).

    https://www.hepb.org/languages/arabic/page-594/
  • Testing and Treatment During Pregnancy

    A hepatitis B virus infection should not cause any problems for you or your unborn baby during your pregnancy if you take the correct precautions. It is important for your doctor to be aware of your hepatitis B infection so that he or she can run appropriate tests and evaluate and monitor the health of your liver, and so your baby can be protected from infection with hepatitis B when it is born. The U.S. CDC and WHO recommend that ALL pregnant people are tested for hepatitis B. Please ask your doctor to test you for hepatitis B early in your pregnancy!  The birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG, if recommended and available) can sometimes fail to prevent transmission to newborns. This typically occurs in pregnant people who are HBeAg positive and have a very high viral load, allowing for the transmission of hepatitis B to your baby. Fortunately, there is a way to prevent transmission even if you are a person with a high viral load.  All people who are diagnosed with hepatitis B in pregnancy should be referred for follow up care with a physician skilled at managing hepatitis B infection. Your physician should perform additional laboratory testing, including HBV DNA level (viral load), and should be checked to see if there is evidence of cirrhosis (extensive liver damage). (click here for a detailed description of these tests). An HBV DNA level greater than 200,000 IU/mL or 1 million cp/ml indicates a level where the combination of the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine (and HBIG) will fail. First-line, antiviral therapy with tenofovir (TDF/viread) is recommended starting from week 28 of pregnancy until delivery but may continue 3 months postpartum. Please talk to your doctor about your own test results.  If the HBV DNA (viral load) blood test is not available or is cost prohibitive, then pregnant people should be tested for HBeAg (a blood test). A “positive” HBeAg test result can indicate a high virus level. Antiviral treatment with tenofovir (TDF) during the last trimester would be recommended for women who test HBeAg positive. TDF Treatment may be discontinued after delivery or 3-months postpartum. All babies born to people with hepatitis B should receive a birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of delivery whether they receive treatment with an antiviral or not. All people who are diagnosed with hepatitis B should be referred to care with a knowledgeable doctor. Some may require continued treatment with an antiviral, many will not. All people need regular monitoring throughout their life since hepatitis B infection and the health of the liver can change over time.    Additional Resource Links:  U.S.: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Viral Hepatitis, Perinatal Transmission (2018) EU/EEA:Antenatal Screening for HIV, Hepatitis B, Syphilis and Rubella Susceptibility in the EU/EEA (2016) Globally:WHO Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus: Guidelines on Antiviral Prophylaxis in Pregnancy (2020)   Page updated September 2020  

    https://www.hepb.org/treatment-and-management/pregnancy-and-hbv/treatment-during-pregnancy/
  • Living With HBV and Drinking Coffee

    The pros and cons of drinking coffee have been wildly debated for years.  However, for those with Hepatitis B and other liver diseases, the addition of a couple of cups of coffee per day to slow down the progression of liver disease, along with decreasing the risk of diabetes and heart disease just makes sense. Dr. Melissa Palmer was a guest speaker at a previous Hepatitis B Foundation patient conference. The information from her presentation had all sorts of nutritional nuggets for those with HBV (Check out Dr. Palmer on podcast if you would like to have a listen!) She stated, based on studies, that coffee and caffeine intake has been associated with improvements in liver ALT and AST levels.  There also seems to be a correlation between increased coffee consumption and warding off cirrhosis and HCC. Just recently there are was an article that discussed the benefits of coffee for those patients with HCV, undergoing treatment with pegylated interferon (PEG) and ribavirin therapy.  It claimed that drinking three or more cups of coffee a day not only reduced some of the difficult side-effects associated with treatment of PEG, but it also increased the treatment success.  However, like so many of these coffee studies, it was a small study and had to be adjusted for other factors. We all know that HBV and HCV are very different viral infections, but you have to wonder if any of the benefits of coffee that is seen in those being treated for HCV can be extrapolated to include those with HBV being treated with Pegylated interferon or antivirals.  Dr. Palmer did mention that coffee did seem to have a greater impact on those with hepatitis C, although I have no idea why. Regardless, if you’re living with HBV, you have to think about the pros and cons of adding coffee to your daily list.  Since all studies seem to show an increased number of cups of coffee having a more positive impact on preventing liver disease progression, or warding off cirrhosis or potentially

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/living-with-hbv-and-drinking-coffee/
  • Having HBV and Using Immunosuppressants

    Studies have shown a direct danger of HBV reactivation for those patients that were previously HBV infected, currently surface antigen-negative (HBsAg -), and using 'biological response modifiers' (ex. Rituximab, which has a black box warning).  These patients may be under-going treatment for lymphoma, rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowl or other serious diseases.  Dangerous reactivation of hepatitis B can be prevented by the simultaneous, prophylactic  treatment with HBV antivirals.  Guidelines exist for screening patients, and the need for prophylaxis is understood, but unfortunately not known or followed by all treating physicians. This is a real danger to the patient, and can result in a fatal outcome. The topic of general immunosuppressant use has come up repeatedly at previous HBF hepatitis B patient conferences among those currently living with hepatitis B. Patients took it upon themselves to ask the experts what they thought because they were constantly on alert for things that might impact their HBV status.  Immunosuppressants are drugs that are used to treat all kinds of acute and chronic conditions.  They tamp down the immune response by suppressing it.  This could be problematic for someone with HBV, because the virus  may replicate readily with the immune system suppressed. The evidence is out there for hard-core long-term immnosuppressants or targeted therapy as noted above,  but there's not much out there about the general use of steroids for those with HBV.  It's worth thinking about, and having the conversation with your liver specialist because we are always looking for ways to avoid further liver injury.  Here are a list of typical steroids that many of us use while living with HBV. They are listed top to bottom, from the least concern to greater concern. Topical steroids – (least concern) creams or ointments applied to the skin for things like eczema and other dermatitis Steroid inhalers – used for asthma and other respiratory

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/having-hbv-and-using-immunosuppressants/
  • Hepatitis B, Hurricane Irene and Other Natural Disasters

    Hurricane Irene is currently slamming the eastern seaboard.  I wrote this blog in anticipation of losing power.  It was a tough week. First, the east coast "earthquake of the century", and now Hurricane Irene and related flooding. Last spring, during an incredible deluge of flooding, a tweep (an HBF friend on twitter) was concerned about the increased risk of HBV infection due to flooding.  She asked that I warn flood victims about this potential hepatitis risk. The risk of hepatitis B is unlikely even with the threat of hurricanes and heavy flooding.  Once again the confusion between hepatitis A and hepatitis B seems to be the issue.  It’s important to know the ABCs of viral hepatitis. Hepatitis A is spread as a result of contaminated food and water, which could readily occur during severe flooding or a natural disaster when clean sources of water may be  hard to come by.  Overcrowding, contaminated water, and compromised sanitation all increase the risk of hepatitis A transmission. This is unlikely with HBV since it is transmitted through blood or body fluid contact of an infected person to an open wound, mucous membrane or orifice of another person.  Perhaps over a long period of time with a catastrophe of historic proportions, the odds of transmission would be increased, but in most cases it is extremely unlikely.  Some of this would also be dependent on the conditions prior to the disaster, and the projected length of time in overcrowded conditions, without adequate sanitation and clean water sources.  The worse the conditions, perhaps a country already struggling, or lacking the infrastructure to provide clean water, or adequate sanitation,  the higher the likelihood. The emergency response time and actions might also contribute. Once again this would vary with the country or area, and the infrastructure in place prior to the disaster. Getting vaccinated against hepatitis A and B is kind of like a mini insurance policy, or pulling together an

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/hurricane-irene-and-hepatitis-b/
  • The Hepatitis B Foundation's Hepatitis B Clinical Trials Page

    Did you check out Tuesday's Hep B Blog, "Participating in HBV Clinical Trials" for those living with Hepatitis B?  It's time to have a more in-depth look at the HBV  trial entries that are updated monthly on The Hepatitis B Foundation's (HBF's) Hepatitis B Clinical Trials web page. Roughly 350 trials out of the 112,278 clinical trials maintained by ClinicalTrials.gov pertain to HBV related studies.  The ClinicalTrials.gov site is a registry of trials that located in 175 different countries.  Changes to ClinicalTrials.gov are an ongoing process. Each month the HBF's Hepatitis B Clinical Trials web page is updated based on a thorough review of clinicalTrials.gov registry.   Trials that are new and are recruiting are added.  Completed trials are deleted, and modifications are made based on the "last updated date" of the each trial entry. All identified trials are active and currently recruiting patients. Modifications may include anything from additional site locations added to the trial, to new contact information, or even a change in protocol.  A few international trials are in an unknown state, but remain on our page until we hear word if the trial is completed, or no longer recruiting patients.  If you are local and interested, it is worth pursing to get the current status. The page is divided into U.S. trials, International trials, Co-Infection trials, Pediatric trials, HBV & Liver Transplantation, HBV & Liver Cancer, and HBV Reactivation and Lymphoma. Some of these categories are more recent and were added to address other areas for those living with HBV. Recently HBF has made an effort to include trials, within the country of origin for the trial, that not only treat HBV, but also monitor patients.  These long term studies may use new, experimental techniques to monitor HBV patients, or those at high risk for HCC.  There are also opportunities to participate in long-term studies that monitor patients and look for common factors, trends etc.

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/the-hepatitis-b-foundations-hepatitis-b-clinical-trials-page/
  • Participating in HBV Clinical Trials

    Have you considered participating in hepatitis B clinical trial?   A clinical trial can be a great opportunity to take advantage of the latest advancements in HBV treatment and monitoring, typically without expense to the patient.  It can open doors and provide an opportunity to interact with liver specialists on the leading edge of treating HBV.  There are numerous clinical trials for hepatitis B offered all around the world, from adult to pediatric patient populations. There are three testing phases that drugs go through before they are approved for use for by the FDA.  A fourth phase examines long-term use.  This is a rigorous process, costs hundreds of millions of dollars and takes 12-15 years before a drug is finally approved. Check out the animated Drug Discovery Time Line to get a better appreciation for the process. A major advantage of participating in a clinical trial is that expensive treating medications, clinical monitoring, and lab work are typically provided without expense to the patient, and the patient is monitored throughout the process by experienced, participating liver specialists. The next thing to consider is whether or not you are eligible for a particular trial.  There are various inclusion/exclusion criterion.  Some trials or studies are looking for patients that are treatment naïve, (patients who have not taken medications for HBV) while others are looking for patients that are treatment experienced, (patients who have taken particular medications for HBV) but may have failed on one treatment protocol, and might need “rescue therapy," such as an antiviral to replace a previous antiviral where a resistance to the drug has occurred based on a viral mutation.  It varies with trial. Other studies may be looking for candidates based on HBe status (positive or negative), degree of liver damage, or ALT or HBV DNA levels over a particular time period. You must first qualify before you consider participation in a trial or study, so be

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/participating-in-hepatitis-b-clinical-trials-2/