Is it possible that the inadequate supplies of ribavirin are in part due to
diversion to other uses? There is a interest in the drug's efficacy in
combination with interferon alpha in treating chronic Hepatitis C. There
are virtually unlimited number of patients with this condition in IV drug
using communities in the developed world. The evidence for efficacy is very
weak (it is rather weak for interferon also), but that won't stop people
using it. There are some trials planned or unerway in Australia, and I
imagine this is the case for other countries.
David Henry
Discipline of Clinical Pharmacology,
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,
The University of Newcastle,
Newcastle Mater Hospital,
Waratah, NSW, AUSTRALIA
Phone +61 (0)49 211856
Fax +61 (0)49 602088
Home +61 (0)49 505576
E-mail: mddah@alinga.newcastle.edu.au
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