-  Proven effective for amelioration of patients with chronic Hepatitis C

- UDCA raises the activation of interferon to increase treatment and reduced reoccurrences

Daewoong’s key product URSA Tab. (200mg) receives additional license to add indication of hepatitis C. The Korean Food & Drug Administration allowed URSA Tab. (200mg), which is a prescription drug, to add liver treatment effects for chronic hepatitis C patients. The amount of medication allowed for chronic hepatitis C are as follows, 200mg of UDCA per time, three times a day orally, and can take 300mg at a time if necessary. This adjustment seems to be good news for patients with chronic hepatitis C that had difficulty with their treatments.

Chronic hepatitis C, which was discovered in 1989, is dangerous because of its low rate of reaction to treatment. In other words, only 50% of patients can be treated while the other 50% cannot. The only medication that is being used worldwide is Interferon and Ribavirin treatments and their rate of success is 50%. There are many reasons behind the low reaction rate and one of them is inhibition of Interferon’s activation. Furthermore, excess use of Ribavirin causes side effects such as hemolytic anemia, depression, migraines, and thus requires a new combination of medication.

UDCA alters the composition of bile acids, and through this reduces the CDCA, which inhibits the activation of Interferon. Thus, UDCA, along with Interferon, Ribavirin can be a potent combination in treating patients with chronic hepatitis C, and this has been proven clinically. Also, an effect of UDCA is remained even if Ribavirin is lowered, and this reduces the side effects that come along with Ribavirin.

*About chronic hepatitis C: There are approximately 2.7 billion patients suffering from it. It is a virus fatal enough for the WHO to warn the public about. There is not domestic statistic, but is estimated at 1~2% of the whole population and there seems to be more patients that have not yet been treated.