Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, August 15, 2005 - 4:32 am
Source: Ivanhoe.com Reported May 27, 2005 Help for Hepatitis C PHOENIX (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- It’s a deadly disease that affects nearly 4 million Americans. Now, there is a new drug that offers new hope for hepatitis C patients. This one drug could be the medical breakthrough patients have been waiting for. Superstar Billy Graham took home the Worldwide Wrestling Federation title in 1977 -- but what happened in the ring brought him a challenge he never expected. He says, "We cut our foreheads to produce blood to make the match look more authentic." Graham thinks that may be how he contracted hepatitis C -- the disease is most commonly spread through blood. Vijayan Balan, M.D., from Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, says, "Hepatitis C is a virus that can infect the liver and cause cirrhosis if it is untreated." Dr. Balan is a liver specialist working on a new treatment. He says, "I think there is significant hope in conquering this disease." Right now, patients must take medication once a week that can induce days of flu-like symptoms. Now a new drug -- Albuferon -- is only taken once a month and causes fewer side effects. "They get the drug more continuously for a longer period of time," Dr. Balan tells Ivanhoe. Albuferon is a combination of interferon, which helps fight infection, and albumin, which allows the medication to stay in the body longer. Dr. Balan says you don’t have the peaks and valleys with this new drug. Graham says a drug that’s easier to handle would have had him back in the gym sooner and able to focus on the good times. The first phase of the study showed Albuferon is safe and well tolerated by patients. Right now, more than 100 people are taking the drug. Soon it will be tested in up to 1,000 people across the country. If you would like more information, please contact: Mayo Clinic 5777 East Mayo Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85054 (480) 515-6296 http://www.mayoclinic.org June 29, 2005 Update: This drug is currently in the trial phase, and the Mayo Clinic is not accepting any new patients to participate in the study at this time
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