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Hepatitis Australia Articles
A guide to current and emerging hepatitis C treatments
February 2012
The way that hepatitis C is treated in Australia is going through a period of rapid change due to significant research breakthroughs in our understanding of the virus, and the development of different types of drugs that can be used to treat the infection.
For more information read the, Guide to current and emerging hepatitis C treatments,
The Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme Process
After a drug has proceeded through the clinical trials process and is approved for use in humans, the drug can be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS). To be listed on the PBS, a gruelling approval process takes place.
It is this, the PBS approval process, that is examined here.
Clinical Trials Process
The purpose of a clinical trial is a test to see how a drug performs in humans, and to develop, test and make available information to provide a basis for evidence-based medicine. Evidence-based medicine is the principle behind the way doctors make choices between different treatments as they become available.
Fibroscan
In people with hepatitis C, determining the level of liver fibrosis is important to monitor disease progression, and assist with treatment decisions.
FibroScan (Transient Elastography) is a new device used to measure the elasticity or stiffness of the liver – the stiffer the liver, the more severe the scarring.
