Gene Variant May Improve Hepatitis C Treatment

Scientists have identified a gene that is associated with suppression of the hepatitis C virus (among others). The gene, called IL28B, codes for a type of interferon that can positively impact standard hepatitis treatment. Some people have naturally inherited this gene variant and can benefit from it.

This work is interesting because it may offer better insight into how medicine can treat hepatitis C. Current treatment only works in about half of the patients (depending on the viral genotype) and has significant side effects. Any advancement that improves these results could potentially benefit millions of people worldwide.

This work, led by Australian geneticist Dr. David Booth of the Westmead Millennium Institute and Professor Jacob George of the University of Sydney, is published in Nature Genetics. More information is available in the official media release.