DITTO-HCV: Dynamically individualized treatment of Hepatitis C infection and correlates of viral/host dynamics

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 00.0492

Key words (English)

Hepatitis C virus; chronic hepatitis; alpha-interferon; ribavirin; viral kinetics; viral pathogenesis;
Life Sciences; Medicine; Health; Safety; Scientific Research; Social Aspects

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: QLK2-2000-00836

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.2 Control of infectious diseases

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Université de Genève
Division de Gastroentérologie et d'Hépatologie
Centre Médical Universitaire

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan (IL)

Abstract (English)

Current treatment for hepatitis C infection with IFN+Ribavirin achieves, at most, 35% sustained virological response. Hence, a majority of patients receive difficult treatment that does no cure them. However, universally applying more severe treatment would be excessive. We propose to develop a new strategy - dynamically individualized treatment - that aims at early classification of response, allowing tailored modification of therapy according to the underlying mechanisms of failure. To determine these mechanisms, we will study the viral and host dynamics during an exploratory clinical study of individualized treatment, based at this stage on classification by viral kinetics only. Viral/host dynamics will be correlated to success of treatment by mathematical models. Our hypothesis is that this strategy will considerably increase the success rate of treatment o f HCV, while minimizing its burden on the patients and the community.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 00.0492