MRC Notes
This series is based on notes that I took when I attended the Medical Research Council (MRC) HCV Conference in Ottawa on January 15 &16, 1999. While every attempt has been made to maintain accuracy, you must keep in mind that these are only my personal notes.
Darlene Morrow
Report from Breakout Groups-Treatment Issues
Scientific issues
1. Trials including monotherapies should be restricted to those examining induction and newer forms of interferon
2. Prospective studies of sustained responders to evaluate the long term response and side effects.
3. Normal ALT should be included in treatments
4. Studies of combination therapy relapsers -we need to look at the role of maintenance therapy
5. Multi-center cooperative studies of the natural history and combination treatment in both aboriginals and pediatrics
6. Research into better tests and cost effectiveness for screening for hepatocellular carcinoma
7. Studies of therapeutics in post transplant HCV
Logistic Issues
1. A network of treatment centers for HCV should provide equal access to patients
2. Access to treatment is problematic-we must change the way things are done.
3. Health Canada must fast-track drugs for clinical trials in hepatitis C
4. drug companies-investigators must be involved early on to maximize info that comes out of a clinical trial
IVDU-access verses compliance?