Diabetes Drug Can Assist in Treatment of Hepatitis C

Tue, 08 Jun 2010
Brand news University of Leeds has discovered that common drugs used in the treatment of diabetes and obesity can also be successfully used in the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection.

The research suggests that drugs like the anti diabetic drug Metformin and AICAR, which are used to prevent obesity, can prevent the hepatitis C virus from multiplying in the body.

This finding has generated a lot of excitement.

These drugs are available on the market already.

Substantial clinical trials are still needed prior to using these to treat hepatitis C infection. It is still a huge step forward in the battle against the virus.

Drugs such as Metformin and AICAR work by stimulating an enzyme called AMP kinase (AMPK) which regulates energy within our cells, the enzyme that hepatitis C virus represses to enable it to replicate.

AMPK's normally works to conserve the energy balance in cells, which it does by temporarily shutting down the production of lipids (fats) and membranes when it senses an increase in energy needs.

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