Wednesday 28th November, 2001

MEDIA RELEASE

HEPATITIS B PATIENTS NEEDED FOR  AUSTRALIAN CLINICAL TRIAL

GPs are being asked to refer hepatitis B patients for a clinical trial of an investigational treatment for the disease.

The oral treatment is being developed by Australian scientists on behalf of an Australian medical research company, AMRAD.

The Phase IIa clinical trial is part of an Asia Pacific trial program and in Australia involves centres in Victoria.

To be eligible for the two-month trial (one month on treatment, and one month of follow-up) people need to be aged between 18 and 65 years and not be on any current treatment for hepatitis B. Women of child-bearing age are not eligible for the trial.

In Victoria the trial sites are Monash Medical Centre, the Alfred Hospital, Western Hospital, Austin Hospital and St Vincent’s Hospital.

One of the doctors involved in the trial, Dr Bill Sievert, Head of Hepatology, Monash Medical Centre said currently there was only a limited range of treatments available for hepatitis B.

"This trial will be an important step forward in developing new antiviral agents for hepatitis B."

Dr Sievert said hepatitis B was very much a hidden disease. It is estimated there are 150,000 to 200,000 people in Australia with the disease.

While this trial was only for a short period - two months - the results gathered would be critical in order for the new treatment to be developed to the stage where it can be tested in larger clinical trials.

"We really need trials like these to find new treatments for hepatitis B which can be used in combination," Dr Sievert said. "Combination therapy, as in the case of HIV/AIDS, will be the way of the future in managing hepatitis B.

Doctors interested in finding out more about the trial can call Dr David Crump, AMRAD Medical Adviser on 03 9208 4070.

Patients are also being recruited via a consumer media and advertising campaign.

Contact details for study nurses for the trial are:

  • Monash Medical Centre: Sherryne Warner on 03 9594 5545
  • The Alfred Hospital:Jo Mitchell on 03 9276 2223
  • Western Hospital:Brigita Gregorevic on 03 8345 6252
  • Austin Hospital:Brenda Morales on 03 9496 2787
  • St Vincent’s Hospital:Jenni Flynn on 03 9288 3597

For further information please contact:

Sue Cook or Joyce Thompson

Hill and Knowlton

(02) 9268 0242

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