old dogs and new tricks, patented but no clinical trial as of yet

Reported June 9, 2010


Drugs Find New Use in Hep C Patients

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- You know what they say about "old dogs" and "new tricks."  But apparently, researchers in England didn't pay any attention and may have pumped new life into some old medications.

Academics at the University of Leeds have found medications like the anti-diabetic drug Metformin and the obesity drug AICAR can prevent the hepatitis C virus from replicating in the body. The two drugs work by stimulating an enzyme called AMP kinase (AMPK), which regulates energy within our cells. This is the very enzyme that the hepatitis C virus represses to enable it to replicate.

"We're very excited about these findings," Professor Mark Harris from the University's Faculty of Biological Sciences, was quoted as saying. "These drugs are already on the market. We think it could be an enormous step forward in the battle against the virus."

Researchers have already filed a patent on the discovery, and the team will soon kick-start a small-scale clinical trial with The University of Nottingham. This will provide a greater evidence base upon which future clinical trials can be constructed.

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SOURCE: The University of Leeds, June 7, 2010

http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=24477

[Diane12855]

I always knew old dogs were great!!! I learn new stuff all the time.

This is quite interesting.