San Antonio scientists are called it a “breakthrough.” A new kind of drug for the liver-ravaging disease hepatitis “C” is showing great promise.
Chimpanzees housed in northwest San Antonio are an important part of the fight against a killer. They are the only animals besides humans that can be infected with hepatitis “C.” About 35 of them are serving as test subjects for scientists at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research.
Robert Lanford, Ph.D., and his team have conducted a half million dollar study over the past year, testing a totally new kind of drug to fight the virus. It’s what’s called “locked nucleic acids,” a DNA-based therapy that doesn’t target the virus. It blocks a molecule in the liver necessary for the virus to replicate, essentially starving the invader.
“Results were remarkable,” said Lanford, a virologist. “We found a 350-fold drop in the virus. And what was more remarkable was that the decrease in virus levels continued for up to three months after we stopped the therapy.”
Using liver biopsies, scientist could tell the chimp livers were getting healthier, even during the experimental therapy. Best of all, Lanford said, the drug did not create any anti-viral resistance.
The Denmark company that makes the drug, Santaris Pharma A/S, is beginning testing in humans. It will be another three years or so before it could be on the market.
Meanwhile, scientists are celebrating what could be a new way to target other diseases, too. “We were hopeful that this drug would have an effect, that it would actually lower HCV levels,” Lanford explained. “We had no idea that it would lower levels so much. So we have a very good feeling that this is very safe long term. This is a major breakthrough in my opinion.”
Worldwide, 170 million people have hepatitis “C,” a major reason for liver transplants. About 4% of American adults have it, and this news should provide them with a nugget of hope.
