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The researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center have discovered a new use for an old drug, which can significantly bring down the levels of the Hepatitis C virus. The drug Fluvastatin is consumed by millions of patients for cholesterol treatment. The researchers at the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center by undertaking the study of 31 veterans discovered that Fluvastatin significantly lowered the viral load or levels of Hepatitis C virus, for upto six weeks when used alone.
Hepatitis C is a blood borne infectious disease that is caused by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), severely affects the liver. The disease is a major problem for the people of Oklahoma. More than 80,000 Oklahomans have chronic hepatitis C, but less than 5 percent have so far been treated. Fluvastatin too cannot completely clear the hepatitis C virus by itself. Hence researchers have begun a phase II randomized, controlled trial that combines Fluvastatin with the standard treatment of peg-interferon and ribavirin. The researchers are hopeful that the combined use of medicines will significantly improve the cure rate of Hepatitis C.
