
Evaluation of a Multi-disciplinary Approach for the Treatment of Hepatitis C in IDUs (HI-LO Study)...
Hepatitis C Virus InfectionAlthough injection drug users (IDUs) account for over 70% of new cases of HCV infection/year, there is no consensus on how to approach their medical care. In some Canadian centres, patients must be free of recreational drug use for as long as 6 months before being considered for HCV therapy. This is not consistent with current North American guidelines. Over the past 5 years, we have developed a successful program for the treatment of HIV infection in this population, based on a multi-disciplinary comprehensive program including directly observed therapy (DOT). Even though the duration of therapy for HCV is shorter than for HIV (as little as 6 months vs. life-long), we must address issues of administration of a weekly injection (interferon), twice daily pills (ribavirin) and the risk of significant side effects (including anxiety and depression) to successfully expand our program to treat this disease. Further, it may be that even if the program is successful, its benefits will be negated by HCV re-infection due to continued risk behaviors for its transmission.

A Study of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Polymerase Inhibitor Pro-Drug in Combination With PEGASYS Plus...
Hepatitis CChronicThis 7 arm study will determine the optimal treatment combination, based on efficacy and safety. Patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), genotype 1, will be randomized to one of 7 treatment groups. Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 will receive triple combination treatment with HCV polymerase inhibitor pro-drug (at doses of 500, 1000 or 1500mg po bid) plus PEGASYS (90 or 180 micrograms sc weekly) plus Copegus (1000 or 1200mg po qd) for 24 weeks, followed by 24 weeks of open label Standard of Care (PEGASYS 180 micrograms sc weekly plus Copegus 1000/1200mg po qd). Group 3 will receive HCV polymerase inhibitor pro-drug 500mg po bid plus PEGASYS 180 micrograms sc weekly plus Copegus 1000/1200mg po qd for 24 weeks; after 24 weeks, those achieving a rapid virological response (RVR) will stop all medication, and non-RVR patients will remain on triple combination for an additional 24 weeks. Group 7 will receive standard of care (SOC) for 48 weeks. There will be a 24 week period of treatment-free follow-up for all treatment groups. The anticipated time on study treatment is 3-12 months, and the target sample size is 100-500 individuals.

Bavituximab Repeat-Dose Trial in Patients Co-Infected With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus and Human Immunodeficiency...
Hepatitis C VirusHiv InfectionsThis trial is designed to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and viral kinetics after multiple infusions of bavituximab in patients co-infected with HCV and HIV.

ACCELERATE Study - A Study of PEGASYS (Peginterferon Alfa-2a (40KD)) in Combination With COPEGUS...
Hepatitis CChronicThis study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of different durations of treatment with PEGASYS combined with ribavirin in patients with CHC genotype 2 or 3 infection who have never previously received interferon (IFN) therapy. The anticipated time on study treatment is 3-12 months and the target sample size is 500+ individuals.

Thymosin Plus PEG-Interferon in Non-Cirrhotic Hepatitis C Patients Who Did Not Respond to Interferon...
Hepatitis CHepatitis C1 moreChronic hepatitis C infection is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease in the United States. Approximately one-third of patients with hepatitis C infection develop cirrhosis of the liver, which can lead to liver failure or liver cancer. The current treatment for hepatitis C infection in previously untreated patients is successful in only about half of patients. There is no established therapy for non-responders. This is a randomized, double-blinded, multicenter trial to determine the effectiveness of thymosin alpha 1 (thymalfasin) 1.6 mg twice weekly plus PEGinterferon alfa-2a 180 ug/wk compared to placebo plus PEGinterferon alfa-2a in adults with chronic hepatitis C without cirrhosis who are non-responders to previous treatment with interferon or interferon plus ribavirin. The definition of non-response requires a positive HCV RNA test at the end of a course of at least 12 weeks of therapy. Patients will receive treatment for 12 months, and will be followed-up for a further 6 months after the end of therapy.

Zidovudine Levels in HIV Infected Patients Being Treated for HCV
HIV InfectionsHepatitis CThis study will test the amount of anti-HIV drugs in the blood cells of HIV-infected patients who are also being treated for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

REPEAT Study - A Study of PEGASYS (Peginterferon Alfa-2a (40KD)) Therapy in Combination With COPEGUS...
Hepatitis CChronicThis 4 arm study is designed for patients with CHC who have not responded to peginterferon alfa-2b (12KD)/ribavirin combination therapy. In these patients, the effects of lengthening the duration of treatment, as well as including an initial 12-week period of high-dose PEGASYS (360 micrograms sc), are compared with the standard combination therapy of PEGASYS (180 micrograms sc) and ribavirin (1000-1200mg po). The anticipated time on study treatment is 1-2 years and the target sample size is 500+ individuals.

A Caspase Inhibitor in Chronic Hepatitis C (HCV) Patients
Hepatitis CChronicThe purpose of this study is to determine if IDN-6556, when given orally, is safe and effective in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Merimepodib (MMPD) in Triple Combination for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C
Hepatitis CHepatitisThis trial is designed to test whether or not the addition of merimepodib (MMPD) to the standard therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin will result in a positive treatment response for people who have not previously responded to this therapy. Approximately 315 subjects will be enrolled in this research study at approximately 55 clinical sites in the United States. There will be three study groups. Everyone in the study will receive Pegasys® (pegylated interferon) and Copegus® (ribavirin) at the normally prescribed doses. Two of the groups will also receive the study drug merimepodib (MMPD) twice a day, one group at each dose level being tested. The third group will take a placebo instead of MMPD, with the Pegasys® and Copegus®. After the first 24 weeks of treatment, blood tests will be done to see if subjects are responding to treatment. If they are responding, they will continue receiving study treatment in the study for another 24 weeks. If they are not responding, they will stop study treatment. Everyone who is responding will be monitored for 24 weeks after the last dose of medication, to see how long the response lasts. Evaluations will be performed during the study to look at the safety of the Pegasys®/Copegus® and MMPD or placebo combination, and to see how the combination is working by measuring Hepatitis C Virus in the blood. At some of the clinical sites performing the study, some subjects may also participate in additional testing to look at the metabolism of the drugs, or to look at the immune response to Hepatitis C virus infection and treatment.

An Open Label Study To Evaluate The Safety and Kinetics of Nelfinavir in Subjects With HIV and Hepatitis...
HIV InfectionHepatitis CThe purpose of this study is to confirm the safety, efficacy and delineate the pharmacokinetic properties of nelfinavir in HIV/ Hepatitis C coinfected subjects with Child Pugh A compensated cirrhosis and or Hepatic fibrosis