Patients who
were nonresponders or relapsers with undetectable HCV-RNA at week 12 were
equally like to achieve SVR (56 vs. Sustained Virologic
Response (SVR) In the EPIC(3) Trial: Week Twelve Virology Predicts
SVR in Previous Interferon/Ribavirin Treatment Failures Receiving
PegIntron/Rebetol (PR ) Weight Based Dosing (WBD).
Hepatitis B is a major cause of chronic liver disease such as liver cancer
and cirrhosis.

Achieving the milestone of less than 2% chronic carriage rate will imply:

-- Approximately 1.who. "We strongly believe increased
education and awareness on a national level is the right path to helping
providers and patients understand how they can prevent the transmission of the
hepatitis B virus and seek appropriate care for the disease.

responsive complications

Of those patients who attained EVR, 36 percent achieved SVR:
57 percent of those with undetectable HCV-RNA at week 12 achieved SVR, but
only 4 percent of those with detectable viral load at week 12.6 million children will be protected from becoming
carriers of hepatitis B every year. Visit the Hepatitis B
Foundation at http://www. Visit
Bristol-Myers Squibb at http://www.

dimitriou complications

01); genotype 1
is the most difficult-to-treat form of hepatitis C. Oral presentation.
The TAG has proposed a 2012 milestone of less than 2% chronic infection in
children under 5 years of age.

autoimmune interferon

And now, the Region
will become the first one to set a target date to achieve hepatitis b control.

WHO recommends universal childhood immunization with three doses of
hepatitis B vaccine with the first dose within 24 hours of birth as a strategy
to best control the disease. As part of
the initiative, a series of local events will take place May 9-16, to coincide
with "National Hepatitis B Awareness Week, " as designated by the U. have developed chronic
hepatitis B infection and an estimated 5,000 Americans die from hepatitis B
and hepatitis B-related liver complications each year.
"The 'AIM for the B' program is making progress in helping the U.

mailer viral

5
mcg/kg/wk) and Rebetol (800-1,400 mg/day) combination therapy for up to 48
weeks.D. Reaching and protecting these children is not just a disease
control issue; it is also about fairness and justice.

inflammation hcv

Results of EPIC(3) showed
that in addition to patients with undetectable HCV-RNA at week 12, retreatment
also may be a good option for patients with other key factors affecting
response:

* SVR was higher in patients with genotype 2 or 3 virus (56 percent)
versus patients with genotype 1 virus (14 percent) (p<0. In this way we will use our
goals to reach every child in the region from the time of birth until school
age and beyond .

immunization curb

Of the first 978 patients enrolled in the EPIC(3) trial, 21 percent
achieved an SVR, defined as undetectable virus (HCV-RNA negative) six months
after the end of therapy."
In addition to examining the ability of PegIntron and Rebetol to achieve
SVR in patients who failed previous therapy , researchers also evaluated the
ability of Early Virologic Response (EVR), defined as >2 log10 decrease or
undetectable HCV-RNA at week 12, to predict the likelihood of achieving SVR in
these patients . 57 percent).
Sunday, April 17: 40th Annual Meeting of the European Association for
the Study of Liver (EASL), Paris, France, April 14-17, 2005.

-- The number of deaths due to hepatitis B is almost 890 deaths per day,
or 300,000 deaths per year."
"We are grateful to Congress for recognizing the need to prioritize
chronic hepatitis B as a serious health issue in the United States," said
Molli Conti, the Hepatitis B Foundation's vice president of outreach programs. Depending on
the country of origin, between five and 15 percent of API immigrants to the
United States are chronically infected, and approximately 15 to 40 percent of
chronically infected hepatitis B patients will develop liver scarring
(cirrhosis), liver failure or liver cancer.

dimitriou hepatitis

Senate
and House of Representatives. We
created the 'AIM for the B' program to educate Americans that this disease can
be life-threatening and to encourage screening for the disease if they are at
risk and to seek care from a knowledgeable physician.

occuring liver

Results from the first treatment phase of the EPIC (3) (Evaluation of PegIntron
in Control of Hepatitis C Cirrhosis) trial(1), a large multicenter global
clinical study involving approximately 2,200 patients at approximately 140
sites worldwide, were presented yesterday in an oral presentation at the
European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) 40th Annual Meeting.
* SVR was higher in patients with F2/3 (mild-to-moderate) fibrosis (26
percent) versus patients with F4 (advanced) fibrosis (15 percent)
(p<0. However , this still remains a
challenging disease to conquer," Poynard said."

The EPIC(3) Study
The EPIC(3) study is essentially three studies in one evaluating PegIntron
and Rebetol combination therapy. In 2003, all Member States at our Regional
Committee Meeting endorsed measles elimination and hepatitis B control as two
new priorities for public health and the Expanded Programme on Immunization .newscom.J. During the events, local physicians, chronic
hepatitis B patients and third-party organizations will gather to share their
experiences with the disease, and discuss the importance of early diagnosis
and care.org.

triggers hepatitis

However, the group has recognized that it
will be challenging to eliminate measles in every country -- especially in
China where measles elimination by 2012 is feasible, but some provinces may
require more time and effort. I know when we all work together we can achieve tremendous and lasting
public health gains.
-- The cost of treatment and care of hepatitis B related diseases annually
in China alone is approximately 12 billion US dollars.

curb responsive

5 mcg/kg/wk) and Rebetol (800 -1,400
mg/day) combination therapy for 48 weeks. Results of HALT-C Trial;
Digestive Disease Week 2003 Conference, Orlando, FL, USA, May 17-23,
2003. Today, the average chronic infection rate is
approximately 10%.S.org. The organization is
committed to raising funds for focused research , promoting disease awareness,
supporting immunization and treatment initiatives, and serving as the primary
source of hepatitis B information for patients and their families, the medical
and scientific community, and the general public.

responsive doses

, Hopital Pitie-Salpetriere, and a lead
investigator of the EPIC (3) trial. "Our research demonstrates that this
difficult-to-treat patient group can be successfully retreated with PegIntron
and Rebetol combination therapy.5 mcg/kg/wk) as long-term maintenance therapy .

-- Approximately 260,000 future deaths from acute or chronic liver disease
will be prevented.int

S.

doses hep

01). The study
will evaluate whether a maintenance dose of PegIntron monotherapy can delay or
prevent life-threatening liver disease caused by the virus in patients with
advanced disease.

References:

(1) Poynard T, Schiff E, Terg R, Goncales F, Diago M, Reichen J,
Moreno R, Bedossa P, Burroughs M, Albrecht J. Remarks by Dr Shigeru Omi,
Regional Director, WHO Western Pacific Region,
At the Conclusion of the Technical Advisory Group Meeting,
Beijing, 10 June 2005

BEIJING, June 10 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Over the past three days, a high-
level group of experts, the Technical Advisory Group or TAG, has reviewed the
progress made towards both measles elimination and hepatitis B control within
the Western Pacific Region.

More than one million people in the U.
"There is a tremendous lack of awareness for chronic hepatitis B in this
country," said U.

mailer suddenly

PegIntron Achieves SVR in Significant Number of Patients Who Failed Previous
Therapy

PARIS, Interim results from a major ongoing
clinical study showed that a significant portion of patients chronically
infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) who failed previous therapies achieved a
sustained viral response (SVR) when retreated with weight-based PegIntron(R)
(peginterferon alfa-2b) and Rebetol(R) (ribavirin) combination therapy .01). The study involves: 1) a trial in patients
who failed previous therapy with sustained virological response (SVR) as the
clinical endpoint for patients with F2-4 fibrosis; 2) a trial to improve liver
histology with long-term therapy in patients with F2-3 fibrosis; and 3) a
trial to improve clinical endpoints in cirrhotic patients (both nonresponders
and previously untreated patients).

Hepatitis B
The Western Pacific Region has already the distinction of being the first
region to have added hepatitis B vaccine in countries. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif. As a result, it is estimated that only a small
percentage of patients are currently receiving care for the disease.S.

hcv complications

The EPIC(3) study is sponsored by Schering-Plough Research Institute and
is being conducted in the United States, Europe, Latin American and the Far
East. In addition to
serving the people of France , the hospital also is a teaching facility with
600 students from the Universite Paris VI. In the United States, APIs make up more
than half of the population infected with the hepatitis B virus .hepb.hepb.

hypertension cirrhosis

"We know that some HCV
patients will not be able to clear the virus with the currently available
therapies.
Initial Treatment Phase: HCV patients with F 2-4 fibrosis (mild-to-
advanced scarring but not cirrhosis) who did not respond or who relapsed after
previous treatment with interferon therapy with or without ribavirin are
retreated with weight-based PegIntron (1. Its faculty includes 110 full Professors of Medicine. Asian
and Pacific Islander community understand the severity of chronic hepatitis
B," said Jeffrey Caballero, executive director, Association of Asian Pacific
Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO).

immunization triggers

Patients who were nonresponders or those that had relapsed after any
previous interferon-based therapy received weight-based PegIntron (1.

(2) DiBisceglie A, Division of Gastroenterogy and Hepatology, St Louis
University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO.

WHO's Western Pacific Region Sets Target Date of 2012 for Measles Elimination and Hepatitis B Control

It is really gratifying that the TAG has provided twin 2012 goals for
control of hepatitis B and measles elimination. Public Education Program to Take Place
During 'National Hepatitis B Awareness Week'

PRINCETON, N. cities where
chronic hepatitis B prevalence is high -- Philadelphia, New York, San Jose
(Calif."
For more information about the "AIM for the B" program and local events,
contact the Hepatitis B Foundation at 215-489-4900 or visit
http://www.

rebetron occuring

The
children who die from measles are generally the most disadvantaged children in
the Region.
-- Almost 75% of the prevented disease burden and mortality will be in
China., In recognition of the need to
increase education and awareness for chronic hepatitis B, the Hepatitis B
Foundation and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company are partnering to host "AIM for
the B: Awareness, Involvement and Mobilization for Chronic Hepatitis B," a
public education program designed to elevate the urgency for prioritizing
chronic hepatitis B as a serious health issue in the United States. "During 'National
Hepatitis B Awareness Week,' programs such as 'AIM for the B' are important
because they help raise awareness for the disease and encourage Americans at
risk to get tested and physicians and patients to take an active approach to
managing chronic hepatitis B.

rebetron gayhealth

Thierry Poynard, M.

"We continue to make advances in the treatment of hepatitis C and today
have improved products and treatment regimens. In EPIC(3 ), we are researching ways to prevent liver disease
progression in these patients using low-dose PegIntron maintenance therapy.
The 2,100-bed Groupe Hospitalier Pitie-Salpetriere is the largest hospital
in France with 20 Research Units and serves more than 500,000 patients per
year.
-- Future savings of at least US 12 billion dollars spent on health care
and treatment of chronic liver disease patients.
"Less than 30 percent of adults infected with hepatitis B experience symptoms
of the disease, which often leads them to think it is not serious and does not
require medical attention .

immunization hypertension

* SVR was higher in patients who had relapsed after previous therapy
(41 percent ) versus patients who were nonresponders (14 percent)
(p<0.
Our goal is to keep these patients healthy until the next generation of HCV
products become available.S.) and San Francisco.

liver suddenly

(Logo: http://www.

About the Hepatitis B Foundation
The Hepatitis B Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure and improving
the quality of life for those affected by hepatitis B through a comprehensive
program of research, education, and patient advocacy.

hep autoimmune

com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040610/CNTH001LOGO )

Measles
TAG has voiced strong support for the proposed regional measles
elimination target date of 2012.
Of course, we know there will be many challenges and that success is not
guaranteed. The region has only 28% of the total global population, but
half of the total global hepatitis B burden. Sen.

curb responsive

The EPIC(3) study will involve approximately 2,200 patients with fibrosis
(but not cirrhosis) in an initial treatment phase, and approximately 1,700
patients, who either did not respond to treatment in the first phase and/or
have cirrhosis, in a second, long-term (three -to-five year) maintenance
treatment phase.
It is unacceptable that children are dying from measles, a disease that
can be easily prevented by an effective, safe and inexpensive vaccine. Currently , it is estimated that
there are almost 160 million chronic carriers of hepatitis B in the Region ,
with an estimated 120 million in China alone, 15-25% of whom will eventually
die from chronic liver disease. This will prevent 95% of hepatitis B infections.com.

suddenly hypertension

Clinical Benefits of Retreatment With PegIntron and Rebetol Combination Therapy Demonstrated in Difficult-to-Treat Hepatitis C Patients

This is nearly double the SVR rate of 12 percent in
patients retreated with peginterferon alfa -2a and ribavirin reported in a
similar patient population (HALT-C trial)(2).
Maintenance Treatment Phase: patients who either did not respond in the
initial treatment phase and/or have cirrhosis will receive a weight-based low
dose of PegIntron (0. But we have a good track record in this Region , for example with
Polio.
The "AIM for the B" program includes events held in four U.S."
As part of the "AIM for the B" local events held in Philadelphia, New
York, San Jose and San Francisco , Asian and Pacific Islander (API) patients
infected with the hepatitis B virus and physicians will speak on their
personal experiences with the disease.

About Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global pharmaceutical and related health care
products company whose mission is to extend and enhance human life.

sufferers hep

"Patients who failed previous HCV therapy need viable treatment options,"
said Prof.
-- Liver cancer ranks among the first five causes of all cancers in the
region.

For more information, please contact:

Dr Yang Baoping , Regional Adviser,
Expanded Programme on Immunization
Tel: +63-2-528-9747
Email: yangb@wpro.

'Aim for the B' Targets Need to Increase Education and Awareness for Chronic Hepatitis B

).bms.

doses curb

---

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