A Novel Approach to Treat Hepatitis C Virus Infection
A Novel Approach to Treat Hepatitis C Virus Infection Developed by Canadian
Researchers
MONTREAL, April 21 /CNW/ - CANVAC is proud to announce that four of its
affiliated researchers and their collaborators have successfully treated
hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected mice using an entirely novel approach. The
concept elaborated by Dr. Christopher D. Richardson and Dr. Eric C. Hsu, from
the Ontario Cancer Institute of the University Health Network, was tested at the
University of Alberta using Drs. Lorne Tyrrell and Norman Kneteman's unique
mouse model of HCV replication. This approach involves introducing
into liver cells a gene encoding a modified natural protein, which is then only
activated in HCV infected cells and leads to the death of these cells, thereby
halting replication of the virus. Published in the May issue of Nature
Biotechnology, the newly discovered
therapeutic approach could theoretically, in humans, reduce the amount of virus
in the blood and eliminate HCV at early stages of infection or prior to liver
transplantation. This technology could be applied to other viral infections.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major source of chronic liver disease throughout
the world, and has been estimated to infect more than 200 million individuals
including approximately 3 million Americans and 300,000 Canadians.
HCV infection leads to a chronic attack of the liver in 70 to 80% of the
patients, of which 30% develop cirrhosis and 5 to 10% liver cancer. Moreover, it
is the principal cause of liver transplantation in North America. The Canadian
Network for Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics (CANVAC) is a unique network of 74
of the most highly recognized Canadian specialists in the fields of immunology,
virology, and molecular biology, who are faculty
members at 25 universities and affiliated research institutes. The Network
scientists, in collaboration with 22 corporate partners, as well as interested
government departments and agencies, and several patient and consumer groups,
are working towards the development of safe and effective vaccines to protect
and treat Canadians and people around the world from cancer and life-threatening
viral
infections, including those caused by HIV and the hepatitis C virus.
CANVAC is hosted by the Université de Montréal and supported by an annual grant
of $4.7 million from the Government of Canada, along with substantial
investments from its private sector partners.
The NCE Program is an initiative of the Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and Industry Canada.
University Health Network is a major landmark in Canada's health-care system,
and a teaching partner of the University of Toronto. Building on the strengths
and reputation of each of the three remarkable hospitals, Toronto General
Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital, UHN brings
together the innovation, talent and resources needed to achieve global impact on
the health care scene and provide exemplary patient care. The University of
Alberta is establishing a Centre of Excellence in Viral Hepatitis through
funding from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and the Alberta Department
of Science and Innovation. The University has had a strong track record in
research therapies for viral hepatitis, both hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
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For further information: Aline Rinfret, PhD, Associate Scientific
Director, CANVAC, Tel.: (514) 288-0591, Aline.Rinfret@...;
Christopher D. Richardson, PhD, Senior Scientist, Ontario Cancer Institute,
Tel.: (416) 204-2280, chrisr@...; D. Lorne Tyrrell, MD, PhD,
Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Tel.:
(780) 492-9728, lorne.Tyrrell@...
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