Hepatitis C: From Scientific Foundations to New Vistas in Treatment

The burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) places new demands on clinicians to keep up with knowledge of the virus and response to infection. This webcast explores what is known about the HCV life cycle, host immune response to HCV, and nonresponse to treatment. Learn how these factors influence response and inform new directions in therapy. Updates on the latest STAT-C agents (eg, protease and polymerase inhibitors) and other novel HCV treatments are also discussed.

ACTIVITY AGENDA

Theoretical Underpinnings of HCV—What We Know Today
Darius Moradpour, MD

Host Immune Response to HCV: Friend or Foe?
David R. Nelson, MD

Why Do Nonresponders Not Respond, and What Can We Do About It?
Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, MD, FACP

Can STAT-C Therapies Change the Course of HCV Infection in the Future?
Ira M. Jacobson, MD

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TARGET AUDIENCE

This CME activity is designed for gastroenterologists, hepatologists, and other clinicians who treat patients with HCV infection.

ACTIVITY GOAL

The goal of this program is to provide state-of-the-art, clinically relevant information that will provide clinicians with new insights into HCV, molecular approaches to anti-HCV therapy, pipeline specifically targeted antiviral therapies for HCV (protease and polymerase inhibitors), and identify the potential role that these agents may play in the future.

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• After evaluating the viral life cycle and recent advances in the study of HCV and HCV biology, determine opportunities for specifically targeted therapies in treatment regimens that have the potential to improve patient outcomes.
  
  
• Utilize knowledge of viral and host variability to analyze factors that lead to nonresponse to treatment and strategies to overcome these factors.
  
  
• Based on preliminary data, contrast potential efficacy and safety considerations of protease and polymerase inhibitors as therapeutic options in the future treatment of patients with HCV infection to improve patient response.
  
  
• Formulate potential therapeutic strategies involving protease and polymerase inhibitors in combination therapy and their clinical implications based on preliminary data.
  
  

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CME INFORMATION

Statement of Accreditation
Projects In Knowledge is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation
Projects In Knowledge designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Contract for Mutual Responsibility in CME
Projects In Knowledge has developed the contract to demonstrate our commitment to providing the highest quality professional education to clinicians, and to help clinicians set educational goals to challenge and enhance their learning experience.
For more information on the contract, click here.

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DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
The Disclosure Policy of Projects In Knowledge requires that presenters comply with the Standards for Commercial Support. All faculty are required to disclose any personal interest or relationship they or their spouse/partner have with the supporters of this activity or any commercial interest that is discussed in their presentation. Any discussions of unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices will also be disclosed in the course materials.
For complete prescribing information on the products discussed during this CME activity, please see your current Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR).

Adrian M. Di Bisceglie, MD, FACP, has received grant/research support from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Inc, Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Roche Pharmaceuticals, SciClone Pharmaceuticals, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated; is a consultant for Abbott Laboratories, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pharmasset Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Schering-Plough Corporation, and SciClone Pharmaceuticals; is on the speakers bureau of Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Inc, and Roche Pharmaceuticals; and is a member of advisory boards for Anadys Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlobeImmune, Inc, Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Metabasis Therapeutics, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Roche Pharmaceuticals, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. Dr. Di Bisceglie will be discussing unapproved/unlabeled uses of peginterferon and ribavirin.

Ira M. Jacobson, MD, has received grant/research support from Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Gilead Sciences, Inc, GlobeImmune, Inc, Human Genome Sciences, Idenix Pharmaceuticals, InterMune Inc, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Schering-Plough Corporation, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Incorporated; is a consultant for Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Dynavax Technologies Corporation, Gilead Sciences, Inc, GlaxoSmithKline, GlobeImmune, Inc, Human Genome Sciences, Idenix Pharmaceuticals, InterMune Inc, Merck & Co, Inc, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Nucleonics Inc, Pfizer Inc, Schering-Plough Corporation, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, and XTL Pharmaceuticals; and is on the speakers bureau of Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Inc, Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Schering-Plough Corporation, and TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc. Dr. Jacobson will be discussing novel treatments for HCV, some or all of which may be unlabeled or unapproved for use in the treatment of patients with HCV.

Darius Moradpour, MD, has no significant relationships to disclose. Dr. Moradpour will not be referencing any unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices in his presentation.

David R. Nelson, MD, has received grant/research support from Debiopharm Group, Human Genome Sciences, Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Roche Pharmaceuticals, Romark Laboratories, LC, Schering-Plough Corporation, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals; is a consultant for and on the advisory boards of Roche Pharmaceuticals and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated; and is on the speakers bureau of Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche Pharmaceuticals, and Schering-Plough Corporation. Dr. Nelson will not be referencing any unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices in his presentation.

Peer Reviewer has disclosed no significant relationships.

Projects In Knowledge's staff members have no significant relationships to disclose.

Conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by the Executive Committee of Projects In Knowledge. All conflicts are resolved prior to the beginning of the activity by the Trust In Knowledge peer review process.

The opinions expressed in this activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect those of Projects In Knowledge.

This CME activity is provided by Projects In Knowledge solely as an educational service. Specific patient care decisions are the responsibility of the clinician caring for the patient.

This independent CME activity is supported by an educational grant from Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated.

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