A new way to prevent hepatitis C?
It seems almost too good to be true, and it very well may be in the long run, but scientists at the Massachusetts Biologic Laboratories (MBL) of the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) have developed a human monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the hepatitis C virus (HCV), according to a press release.
Scientist presented the details of the study on April 23 in Copenhagen, Denmark at the 44th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). The new antibody, called MBL-HCV1, effectively neutralized HCV in cultures and then prevented the infection during tests on animals.
According to the release, the scientists tested three non-human primates, in which one of the primates did not receive the antibody, another received a low dose, and the last received a high dose. After all three animals were exposed to HCV, the animals with low or no dosage contracted the infection, while the animal with the high dosage was protected.
Furthermore, the animal that did not receive a dosage was given a high dose of the antibody afterward, which cleared the HCV from the animal’s system.
Donna Ambrosino, MD, executive director of the MBL and a professor of pediatrics at the Medical School said she was pleased with the progress made thus far because the antibody showed significant efficacy. However, she remained cautious with her assessment.
“These results are encouraging as a possible treatment for HCV infected patients, but more work needs to be done before we know how effective it will be in people,” she said in the release.
This development is particularly important for patients undergoing liver transplants (roughly 2,000-4,000 per year). In serious cases of HCV, a transplant is necessary if the virus does not respond to antiviral drugs. However, for those who end up getting transplants, their new liver is almost always eventually infected with HCV because the virus remains in their bloodstream. Researchers hope that giving patients this antibody before and during the liver implant with render HCV unable to attack the liver again.
Researchers also think it’s possible that the antibody could be combined with antiviral drugs to help newly infected patients.
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