As of August 1, MAVIRET a new hepatitis C treatment is listed on Australia\u2019s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).<\/p>\n
MAVIRET, an eight-week, pan-genotypic treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients (new to treatment and without cirrhosis), is now available at a subsidised rate.<\/p>\n
According to Hepatitis Australia, approximately 200,000 Australians live with hepatitis C, with an additional 10,000 new infections every year, around 90 per cent of Australians living with hepatitis C are without cirrhosis yet have not been treated.<\/p>\n
Left untreated, hepatitis C can cause cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer and is responsible for more than 600 deaths annually in Australia.<\/p>\n
The therapy contains two direct-acting anti-viral agents that work to block thelifecycle of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a patient; doctors consider a patient virologically cured of HCV if the patient has undetectable levels of the virus 12 weeks after completing the treatment course.<\/p>\n
The PBS listing is part of the federal government\u2019s $1 billion investment in new direct-acting antiviral treatments to help reach the World Health Organisation target of eliminating hepatitis C by 2030.<\/p>\n
Professor Gregory Dore, head of the viral hepatitis clinical research program at the University of New South Wales, said the inclusion of MAVIRET was a major step forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe inclusion provides a further tool in the strategy to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat in Australia, and globally. For people living with hepatitis C, particularly those who are new to treatment, this new regimen provides another treatment option,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Australians with hepatitis C are encouraged to see their GP to have their liver health assessed and to discuss treatment options.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As of August 1, MAVIRET a new hepatitis C treatment is listed on Australia\u2019s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). MAVIRET, an eight-week, pan-genotypic treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients (new to treatment and without cirrhosis), is now available at a subsidised rate. According to Hepatitis Australia, approximately 200,000 Australians live with hepatitis C, with an additional […]<\/p>\n