Nanoparticle Completely Eradicates Hepatitis C Virus

Diggester writes "While Americans worry every year about getting a flu shot or preventing HIV/AIDS, the deadlier silent killer is actually Hepatitis C, killing over 15,000 people yearly in the U.S. since 2007 — and the numbers continue to increase as the carriers increase in age. While there is no vaccine, there is hope in nanoparticle technology. The breakthrough came from a group of researchers at the University of Florida, creating a 'nanozyme' that eliminates the Hep C 100% of the time; before now, the six-month treatment would only work about half the time. The particles are coated with two biological agents, the identifier and the destroyer; the identifier recognizes the virus and sends the destroyer off to eliminate the mRNA which allows Hep C to replicate." Reader Joiseybill adds a link to coverage in the IEEE Spectrum, and points out that the 100 percent success rate, while encouraging, is so far only in the lab.

Comments

A cure will never be FDA approved

[Anonymous Coward]

A cure will never be approved by FDA et al. A cure brings less income than a life-long treatment plan. A cure must be avoided. I am sure this will prove to be considered a too "risky" treatment (as opposed to dying of HepC?) and it will never be approved.

However a 97% effective life-long treatment will be "safe" and approved.

Re:Easy

[smooth wombat]

As this is a sexually transmitted disease

It's only sexually transmitted if one of the people was shooting up.

Which begs the question, other than for people who get Hep C through transfusions, why are we worried about this if the only ones who will really benefit are drug users? They have a choice not to shoot up but chose to continue on their path.

Apparently personal responsibility isn't in vogue any more.