Czech scientists unveil groundbreaking treatment for hepatitis B
Every year a million people die of hepatitis B around the globe. The disease is caused by a virus and spreads in a similar way to HIV, only the hepatitis virus is stronger and the disease can be a hundred times more contagious than HIV. Until recently there was no cure available for the 300,000,000 million hepatitis sufferers around the world - only vaccination. The good news is that a team of Czech scientists headed by Professor Antonin Holy have invented a revolutionary drug that they say actually cures the symptoms of the condition.
Almost a year ago Professor Holy unveiled an anti-AIDS drug called Viread. Last week, his team presented another breakthrough in medicine, this time with a cure for hepatitis B. The unique formula stops the hepatitis virus from multiplying in the body. The drug is reported to have virtually no side effects and the daily dose is just one tablet. Professor Antonin Holy explains.
"The drug should keep the patient in good condition. But an absolute recovery, the eradication of the virus will be difficult. In most cases it is a lifelong process. The advantage of this new formula is that it comes in very low doses so no harm is done to the organs. To get rid of the virus is extremely complicated but the important thing is that the clinical symptoms are not present."
Professor Holy came up with the key ingredient as far back as 1986 and in later years cooperated with a team of scientists at the Institute of Organic Chemistry on a further development of the drug. After extensive and costly clinical trials in Belgium and the United States the drug is now finally being made available to sufferers. Produced in the United States, the drug will also be available to Czech patients.
"It should be available by mid-next year as a prescription drug. I don't know whether it will be registered in the Czech Republic, too, but in any case it should be available to our patients after it passes the usual approval procedures and trials conducted by the Health Ministry."
