Ribavirin data

An NIH Phase III trial of ribavirin in 58 patients, reported in Hepatology, showed positive results in the 32 patients (16 on drug) analyzed so far. The 600 mg, twice daily oral dose normalized blood levels of a marker enzyme for liver damage, alanine amino transferase (ALT), in four patients, and cut elevated levels in half in seven more patients.

The average value for ALT in the treated group decreased by 47 percent (p< 0.001). Moreover, liver biopsies demonstrated a significantly improved index of liver histology in patients taking ribavirin (p < 0.05). Only one placebo-treated patient showed a partial response, and liver pathology appeared to worsen in the group, although the change was not significant statistically. ...