Q & A with Karen Tashima, MD new direct-acting antiviral agents offer therapeutic revolution for hepatitis C virus infection.

PROVIDENCE – Hope is here for the estimated 5.2 million persons1 in the United States with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Twenty-five years after the identification of the virus through cloning techniques, revolutionary direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) offer the promise of a cure for a significant number of those affected. Dr. Karen Tashima, Site Director of HIV Clinical Studies and Clinical Research Site Leader of the AIDS Clinical Trials Unit at The Miriam Hospital, is also a principal investigator in studies of these new DAA medications. In addition, she is engaged in follow-up studies with those patients whose virus been eradicated to make sure it is cured for the long-term; there are also two trials underway at Miriam for HIV-HCV co-infected patients. Recently Dr. Tashima discussed these revolutionary therapeutic agents and the economic challenges they present.