World Health Organization Urges Europe-Wide Hepatitis Plan

[Guest guest]

World Health Organization Urges Europe-Wide Hepatitis Plan

09-25-06 06:16 PM EST

COPENHAGEN -(Dow )- The World Health Organization Europe on Tuesday

will urge the formation of a pan-European strategy to help combat viral

hepatitis and increase the number of patients being tested for the disease.

At a conference in Copenhagen Tuesday, the WHO Europe, together with the

European Liver Patients Association, wi ll present studies showing a great

inconsistency in hepatitis testing, diagnosis and treatment across Europe,

leaving many patients unaware they carry the disease.

According to the WHO, about 600 million people worldwide are infected with

either hepatitis B or C, both potentially life-threatening liver diseases.

With early diagnosis and treatment, the majority of hepatitis patients can

be treated effectively. The WHO said, however, as many as 86% of people with

hepatitis C currently aren't aware they carry the disease.

Hepatitis C is mainly transmitted through contact with infected blood.

Hepatitis B, for which there is a vaccine available, is also transmitted via

body fluids.

Muriel Colinet, president of ELPA, said the organization is asking the

European Commission and the European Parliament to help promote screening of

patients which may be at risk of carrying hepatitis C, for which there is no

vaccine available.

ELPA would like to see more European Union funding for free and anonymous

hepatitis testing as well as public campaigns for disease awareness and

promotion of research into viral hepatitis that coordinates public and

private sector initiatives.

The association is also requesting E.U. Commission funding for the

establishment of national and European hepatitis strategies. At the moment,

only four of the 15 ELPA member countries have national hepatitis

strategies, despite a recommendation by the WHO in 1999.

Roche Inc. (RHHBY) and Schering-Plough AG (SCH.XE) are currently the only

two companies that make a treatment for hepatitis C. However, both

companies' drugs have a large number of possible side effects, including

mental health problems, infections and problems with the lungs and heart.

For Roche, sales growth of Pegasys has failed to meet management's

expectations. The company had expected the hepatitis C market would expand

at a faster pace than it did.

ELPA's Colinet said many patients diagnosed with hepatitis C don't begin

treatment because they're afraid of the side effects.

Colinet estimates that about three of every 10 patients which know they

carry the disease refuse treatment because of this, while others want to

delay treatment because they hope new drugs will come to the market with

less side effects.

In the six months to June 30, Roche's sales of Pegasys rose 17% to CHF1.40

billion. Pegasys is currently Roche's seventh-best selling drug.

At Schering-Plough, PegIntron is the company's third-best selling treatment,

with sales having risen 20% in the first half to $423 million.

Company Web site: http://www.roche.com

Company Web site: http://www.schering.com

-By Malin Rising, Dow Newswires; +46 8 545 130 95; malin.rising@

dowjones.com

http://news.morningstar.com/news/DJ/M09/D25/200609251816DOWJONESDJONLINE000744.h\

tml?Cat=MktDigest

_________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

World Health Organization Urges Europe-Wide Hepatitis Plan

09-25-06 06:16 PM EST

COPENHAGEN -(Dow )- The World Health Organization Europe on Tuesday

will urge the formation of a pan-European strategy to help combat viral

hepatitis and increase the number of patients being tested for the disease.

At a conference in Copenhagen Tuesday, the WHO Europe, together with the

European Liver Patients Association, wi ll present studies showing a great

inconsistency in hepatitis testing, diagnosis and treatment across Europe,

leaving many patients unaware they carry the disease.

According to the WHO, about 600 million people worldwide are infected with

either hepatitis B or C, both potentially life-threatening liver diseases.

With early diagnosis and treatment, the majority of hepatitis patients can

be treated effectively. The WHO said, however, as many as 86% of people with

hepatitis C currently aren't aware they carry the disease.

Hepatitis C is mainly transmitted through contact with infected blood.

Hepatitis B, for which there is a vaccine available, is also transmitted via

body fluids.

Muriel Colinet, president of ELPA, said the organization is asking the

European Commission and the European Parliament to help promote screening of

patients which may be at risk of carrying hepatitis C, for which there is no

vaccine available.

ELPA would like to see more European Union funding for free and anonymous

hepatitis testing as well as public campaigns for disease awareness and

promotion of research into viral hepatitis that coordinates public and

private sector initiatives.

The association is also requesting E.U. Commission funding for the

establishment of national and European hepatitis strategies. At the moment,

only four of the 15 ELPA member countries have national hepatitis

strategies, despite a recommendation by the WHO in 1999.

Roche Inc. (RHHBY) and Schering-Plough AG (SCH.XE) are currently the only

two companies that make a treatment for hepatitis C. However, both

companies' drugs have a large number of possible side effects, including

mental health problems, infections and problems with the lungs and heart.

For Roche, sales growth of Pegasys has failed to meet management's

expectations. The company had expected the hepatitis C market would expand

at a faster pace than it did.

ELPA's Colinet said many patients diagnosed with hepatitis C don't begin

treatment because they're afraid of the side effects.

Colinet estimates that about three of every 10 patients which know they

carry the disease refuse treatment because of this, while others want to

delay treatment because they hope new drugs will come to the market with

less side effects.

In the six months to June 30, Roche's sales of Pegasys rose 17% to CHF1.40

billion. Pegasys is currently Roche's seventh-best selling drug.

At Schering-Plough, PegIntron is the company's third-best selling treatment,

with sales having risen 20% in the first half to $423 million.

Company Web site: http://www.roche.com

Company Web site: http://www.schering.com

-By Malin Rising, Dow Newswires; +46 8 545 130 95; malin.rising@

dowjones.com

http://news.morningstar.com/news/DJ/M09/D25/200609251816DOWJONESDJONLINE000744.h\

tml?Cat=MktDigest

_________________________________________________________________

All-in-one security and maintenance for your PC.  Get a free 90-day trial!

http://clk.atdmt.com/MSN/go/msnnkwlo0050000001msn/direct/01/?href=http://www.win\

dowsonecare.com/?sc_cid=msn_hotmail