New medicines are being developed that are expected to transform the care of patients with hepatitis C, making treatment far more effective and far less grueling.

The new drugs, which could start reaching the market as early as next year, could help subdue a virus that infects roughly four million Americans, most of them baby boomers, and 170 million people worldwide.

"I almost think this will be revolutionary, to be honest,' said Dr Fred Poordad, chief of hepatology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles. "We are chomping at the bit to try to treat as many patients as we can".

About two dowzen pharmeceutical companies are now pursuing drugs for hepatitis C, which an executive at Vertex Pharmaceuticals recently called "one of the largest pharmaceutical opportunities this decade."

To see full article CLICK HERE

ROCK guitarist Rowland S. Howard dragged himself out of bed on October 29 last year for a gig in his St Kilda Neighbour hood. 

Weighing 60Kg, he barely made a bump under the blankets but a dapper suit helped him conceal his swollen abdomen, puffy legs and the rash over his dysfunctional liver.  Dosed with anti-nausea medication, he warned the audience of goths and hipsters that he was feling queasy and could vomit. The signature Lark cigarette that dangled from his lips when he burst on to the '70s punk scene with Nick Cave in The Boys Next Door was missing, So too was the heroin that laced his veins on and off until 2004.

 For full article CLICK HERE

Monday 6 September 2010, Melbourne VIC

This seminar is designed for people new to working in hepatitis B (HBV). It can be attended as an independent workshop or will serve as a preparatory program for the 7th Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference (Melbourne, 6-8 September, 2010 www.hepatitis.org.au).

It will provide policy workers, educators, community organisation staff, media, healthcare workers and other interested parties with a good knowledge base in hepatitis B, within the context of the First National Hepatitis B Strategy. In particular, it will ensure participants are sufficiently prepared to gain the utmost from the Conference.

For more information CLICK HERE

Active Launceston is promoting Drug Action Week 2010 by providing 2 FREE physical activity sessions on Wednesday 23rd of June

10am - 11am Tai Chi for beginners

11:30am - 12:30pm Yoga for beginners 

Bookings: via Headspace on 6335 3100

Venue: Headspace corner Wellington & Brisbane Street Launceston

Her health ruined after years of drug abuse, Natalie Cole needed a little help before she could resume her singing career.

'Normally I wouldn't want to write about something like this, but the circumstances... everything that happened was pretty amazing. As anyone who has read my autobiography might know, I was on drugs and all that kind of stuff. Because of that I got hepatitis, but it never showed itself. It was in my body for 25 years', - Natalie Cole

To read full article CLICK HERE