World Hepatitis Day – European Medicines Agency uses regulatory tools to facilitate patient access to innovative medicines

25/07/2014

World Hepatitis Day – European Medicines Agency uses regulatory tools to facilitate patient access to innovative medicines

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), viral hepatitis kills 1.4 million people worldwide every year. That is as many as are killed by AIDS/HIV infections.

Viral hepatitis is caused by five different types of hepatitis viruses, hepatitis A, B, C, D and E, which can lead to the development of acute or chronic inflammation of the liver.

In Europe, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public-health challenge. It occurs in between 0.4% and 3.5% of the population in different European Union (EU) Member States and is the most common reason for liver transplantation in the EU.

The treatment paradigm for chronic hepatitis C is currently shifting rapidly with the development of several new classes of direct-acting antivirals. These new medicines display high efficacy rates allowing patients with chronic HCV…