
Pharmacokinetics of Multiple Ascending Doses of VCH-222 in Subjects With Chronic Hepatitis C Infection...
Hepatitis CThe purpose of this study is to assess antiviral activity when administered alone for 3 days or in combination with peginterferon and ribavirin for 12 weeks. This study will also evaluate the safety and tolerability of treatment with VCH-222 when given alone or in combination with peginterferon and ribavirin. The study will also evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of VCH-222 in HCV infected subjects.

Boceprevir Treatment in Participants With Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 1 Deemed Nonresponders to...
Hepatitis CChronicThis is a single-arm, multicenter study of boceprevir (BOC) in combination with peginterferon plus ribavirin (PEG/RBV) in adult chronic hepatitis C (CHC) genotype 1 participants who completed their per-protocol defined treatment and did not achieve sustained viral response (SVR) while in the PEG/RBV control arm(s) of an Schering-Plough Research Institute (SPRI) study of BOC combination therapy. Participants who are able to enroll in this study within 2 weeks after the last dose of PEG/RBV in previous protocol are to receive BOC+ PEG/RBV for up to 44 weeks followed by 24 weeks post-treatment follow-up. Participants who are not able to enroll in this study within 2 weeks after the last dose of PEG/RBV in previous protocol are to receive PEG/RBV for 4 weeks followed by BOC+ PEG/RBV for up to 44 weeks, with 24 weeks post-treatment follow-up.

Anti-CTLA-4 Human Monoclonal Antibody CP-675,206 in Patients With Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma...
Hepatocellular CarcinomaHepatitis C Virus Chronic InfectionCP-675,206 (tremelimumab) is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to activated T lymphocytes and by enhancing their activation may produce a stimulation of the immune response against tumoral or viral antigens. In this clinical trial, the ability of tremelimumab to produce tumor responses among hepatitis C virus-infected patients with hepatocellular carcinoma not amenable to other therapies will be explored. Besides, the effect on the replication of the virus will be analysed.

Low Dose Peginterferon-α 2a for Chronic Hepatitis C, Genotypes 2 or 3, in HIV-coinfected Patients...
Hepatitis CChronic1 moreHypothesis: A regimen of low dose of peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin may be as effective as currently recommended regimen for chronic hepatitis C in HIV-coinfected patients. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of lower dose of pegylated interferon-α 2a (135 µg weekly) plus ribavirin and a shorter duration of treatment (20 weeks after achieving an undetectable plasmatic HCV-RNA)than the current recommended in patients with chronic hepatitis or compensated cirrhosis by hepatitis C virus, genotypes 2 or 3, in HIV-coinfected patients in real use conditions. Method: Phase IV, postautorization, open labelled multicenter trial with a planned duration of 118 weeks in which 71 patients from several hospitals of the Servicio Andaluz de Salud will be enrolled. The usual clinical and analytical follow up will be performed but additional blood samples will be obtained for determination of interferon and ribavirin plasma levels. The primary end point wall be a sustained virologic response (defined as an undetectable serum HCV-RNA after 24 weeks after the cessation of treatment). Likewise, rapid virological response (at 4 weeks of treatment), early virological response (at 12 weeks), and end of treatment response rates will be evaluated as well as their relationships with the plasma interferon an ribavirin concentrations determined by ELISA and HPLC, respectively. The safety and tolerability of the studied medications will be evaluated by means of clinical adverse events, physical examination and laboratory results.

A Phase 2a Study to Evaluate Viral Kinetics and Safety of Telaprevir in Participants With Genotype...
Hepatitis CChronicThe purpose of this study is to assess the effect of telaprevir on early hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) C virus (HCV) viral kinetics in treatment-naive participants who are chronically (lasting a long time) infected with genotype 2 or 3 HCV.

A Phase II, Double-blinded, Randomized, Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of...
Hepatitis BHepatitis C1 moreCirrhosis is a diffuse lesion characterized by architectural distortion of the liver because of collagen deposition and development of nodules of regenerating hepatocytes. It is an irreversible change that results from diseases characterized by chronic liver injury (Fujimoto, 2000). Cirrhosis alters the pattern of blood flow through the liver and results in impaired perfusion of hepatic lobules with intrahepatic and extrahepatic shunting of blood. This deprives hepatocytes of uniform perfusion by arterial and portal venous blood resulting in both portal hypertension and other consequences of cirrhosis including impaired protein synthesis and altered drug metabolism. The histologic diagnosis of cirrhosis requires the presence of regenerative nodules or pseudolobules completely encircled by fibrosis such as congenital hepatic fibrosis can result in portal hypertension in the absence of cirrhosis (Anthony et al., 1977). The events leading to the development of cirrhosis are generally those of chronic injury with hepatocyte destruction. Acute severe liver injury as in fulminant viral hepatitis does not result in cirrhosis and the liver generally returns to normal after recovery. Cirrhosis can be classified by macroscopic appearance, by cause, and by histologic appearance and location of liver damage. Micronodular cirrhosis is composed of uniform nodules less than 3 mm in diameter, whereas macronodular cirrhosis has varying size nodules greater than 3 mm diameter. Mixed nodular cirrhosis has nodules of both sizes. Some liver diseases such as alcoholic liver disease may present as micronodular cirrhosis and develop larger nodules with subsequent regeneration of hepatocytes. For this reason, many prefer etiologic classification (e.g., alcoholic cirrhosis). The designation of cirrhosis as post necrotic, biliary and portal are still commonly used and imply predominant histologic location of fibrosis. Cirrhosis is an irreversible disease, and attempts should be made to stabilize the patient and to control the cause. Factors that indicate a poor outcome include an elevated prothrombin time that does not correct itself with parenteral vitamin K, upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by varices, ascites refractory to therapy, increased age of the patient, sever malnutrition, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, a pronounced increase of serum bilirubin in the absence of haemolysis, and heptocellular carcinoma (Yeh et al., 2003). In general, all causes of upper GI bleeding are associated with an increased mortality in patients with cirrhosis. For those with alcoholic cirrhosis who lack portal hypertension, survival is similar to an age-matched cohort if alcohol intake is stopped (Nakamura et al., 1991). If ethanol consumption continues, mortality is higher. Cirrhosis can be present without clinically significant complications and be identified only at autopsy or during evaluation of abnormal liver tests (Mendez et al., 2003). However, for many patients the disease is slowly progressive resulting in one or more complications. The clinical manifestations of cirrhosis are a result of altered hepatic blood flow through the liver with intrahepatic shunting causing impaired perfusion of hepatocytes or portal hypertension with shunting of blood around the liver though portosystemic communications. The major complications of portal hypertension include oesophageal or gastric varices, ascites, portosystemic encephalopathy, and hepatorenal-syndrome (Menon & Kamath, 2000). With impairment of hepatocyte perfusion or reduction of hepatocyte number, altered synthetic function can result in hypoalbuminemia, hypoprothrombinemia, and changes in drug metabolism. Vitalliver is a Chinese medicine which is administered in the form of a suppository, which is uncommon for most Chinese medicines. Medications released from the suppositories are absorbed directly from the circulation around the rectum and then reach the liver via the portal vein. Basic pharmacological studies have shown that Vitalliver has good immunomodulating functions, increases the activities of T-cells, B-cells and NK cells, therefore this formulation may have special values in treating liver diseases.

A Study of PEGASYS (Peginterferon Alfa-2a (40KD)) Plus COPEGUS (Ribavirin) With or Without Pioglitazone...
Hepatitis CChronicThis 2 arm study will assess the efficacy and safety of PEGASYS plus COPEGUS, with or without concomitant pioglitazone, on hepatitis C virus titers in treatment-naive patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C, and insulin resistance. Patients will be randomized to receive either a)PEGASYS 180 micrograms/week + Copegus 1000-1600 mg/day (according to body weight) for 48 weeks or b)16 weeks of pioglitazone (30 mg daily for 8 weeks, then 45 mg daily for 8 weeks), followed by PEGASYS 180 micrograms/week + Copegus 1000-1600 mg/day + pioglitazone 45 mg daily for 48 weeks. The anticipated time on study treatment is 1-2 years, and the target sample size is 100-500 individuals.

Single-Dose Escalation Study of IDX184 in Healthy Volunteers (MK-2355-002)
Hepatitis CThe purpose of this study is to obtain single dose safety and pharmacokinetic (PK) data of IDX184 in humans. No formal hypotheses are to be tested in this study.

Safety Study of SPC3649 in Healthy Men
Hepatitis CA placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, single dose, dose escalating trial in healthy men to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of SPC3649.

A Study of Combination Therapy With PEGASYS (Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a (40KD)) and Copegus (Ribavirin)...
Hepatitis CChronicThis study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alfa-2a 40KD + ribavirin combination therapy given for 24 weeks versus 48 weeks in patients with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 2/3.