Comprehensive Global Testing Solutions For HCV Novel Therapeutics In Clinical Development

By Christos J. Petropoulos, Ph.D., Monogram Biosciences and Patrice Hugo, Ph.D., LabCorp Clinical Trials

The identification of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 1989 solved a puzzling healthcare mystery. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, doctors treated patients presenting with hepatitis-like symptoms, but were unable to assign causation to either hepatitis A or B virus infection. The discovery of HCV pinpointed the etiological agent of these cases, and a year later doctors had a diagnostic test available to identify infected individuals.

The ability to detect HCV enabled health officials to better capture the global incidence of infection. The data showed HCV infection was a widespread problem. In 1990, more than 2% of people worldwide were infected with HCV. By 1991, doctors were using the immune modulator interferon (IFN) alpha to treat HCV, and in the late 90s, IFN-alpha treatment was augmented with a second therapeutic agent, ribavirin, that improved response rates. In 2005, an estimated 180 million people worldwide were infected with HCV. Current estimates now suggest that approximately 200 million people are infected globally, of which approximately 170 million are chronic carriers.