Spain could become one of the first countries to eliminate hepatitis C

However, to achieve the WHO goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030, initiatives must be launched to improve prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and comprehensive management of patients with hepatitis C, as revealed during the celebration of the “Workshop on Viral Hepatitis: Elimination and Control as Key Goals”, which was organized today Gilead Sciences and which was attended by decision-makers from the main scientific societies involved in his approach.

Experts agreed that it is necessary to use all diagnostic capabilities and go where the patients may be. In this sense, they emphasized the importance of carrying out diagnostic tests among those people or groups who represent risk indicators and may be carriers of this virus.

Doctor Manuel Romero, President of AEEH: spoke about the current situation with viral hepatitis in Spain, analyzing where we are and remembering that to eliminate hepatitis C and achieve the 2030 goals it is necessary “Work on an interdisciplinary basis with scientific societies such as public administrations, specialists and organizations. To this end, it is necessary to promote comprehensive and opportunistic diagnostics that will benefit the thousands of patients with viral hepatitis in Spain awaiting detection, connection to the health care system and treatment.”

The diagnosis of viral hepatitis and the search for options was discussed during the seminar by Dr. Federico Garcia, President of SEIMC, who recalled the importance of the diagnosis: “It is very important to use any test for the diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis. Comprehensive diagnosis of viral hepatitis is carried out in less than 50% of cases are HBV/HDV. This is why it is critical to increase the number of people who are diagnosed and seek treatment. simplify and improve the care regimen to avoid incomplete diagnosis and loss of patients (recovery of the lost). For hepatitis Delta, we must test all people with chronic hepatitis B for HDV and treat them to prevent progression of the disease.”

Despite this, there are still opportunities to bring diagnosis closer to those people who are living with the infection and do not know it. An example is hospital emergency services, where the prevalence of active infection is three times higher than in the general population5. So, Dr. Juan Gonzalez del Castillo, coordinator of the working group on infections SEMES (INFURG-SEMES), explained that emergency services play a key role in achieving zero hepatitis goals because “44% of patients seen in the emergency department do not know their infection status,” The diagnosis in patients with severe fibrosis is common (up to 51%)4. Late diagnosis can lead to progression to severe disease5, which is associated with higher mortality, poorer quality of life and higher costs6.”

Many of the viremic patients treated in emergency departments represent populations that are difficult for the healthcare system to access. In most cases, this route becomes the only entry point. For this reason, Dr. González del Castillo recalls that “opportunistic diagnosis in emergency services the key to eliminating achieving automation of diagnostics carried out on them. That’s why, participation and cooperation different scientific societies is essential to achieve HCV elimination in Spain.”

DELTA HEPATITIS

Experts also showed the importance of improving care for patients with Hepatitis Delta, which is the most serious of the viral hepatitis. This disease affects patients infected hepatitis B virus (HBV), It is associated with faster progression of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis and an increased risk of liver cancer and death. Currently many in patients with VGB is not diagnosed due in part to limited knowledge about the disease and a historical lack of effective treatments.

Regarding hepatitis Delta, Dr. Manuel Romero He added that we should take “every opportunity to treat patients with Delta hepatitis “which has not been possible until now, and to this end, its diagnosis should be expanded in patients with chronic hepatitis B and sent to the healthcare system for comprehensive treatment, given the aggressiveness of this infection.”

During the presentation, Martha Velasquez, The Director of Gilead’s Liver Business Unit recalled that Gilead has more than 20 years of experience in the fight against liver diseases and more than 10 achievements for a positive future. During this time, the company managed to improve life by more than 10.9 million people around the world, always striving to make a difference in the lives of millions of people and their families, with a strong commitment to eliminating hepatitis C and improving the treatment of HBV and HDV.

He said Gilead has played a fundamental role in changing the course of HCV and will continue to work with all parties involved until its eradication is achieved through initiatives that ensure all patients are diagnosed and treated. The company has completed two decades of innovation in the viral hepatitis space since it began its journey with the first treatment for hepatitis B in 2003. Since 2014, Gilead has had a portfolio of antiviral drugs for treatment and cure. hepatitis C. This viral hepatitis portfolio was expanded in 2024 to include National Health System (NHS) the only treatment approved for the treatment of HDV in Europe.

Gilead has implemented an ambitious strategy to support innovative projects both within hospitals and across medical centers to continue to diagnose and refer all infected patients. Initiatives that, as Martha Velazquez explained, “326 projects were financed in 15 autonomous regions. exceeds six million euros provided by Gilead as part of our commitment to innovation. However, much work remains to be done and ambitious regional phase-out plans are needed. cooperation of all parties involved and take advantage of any diagnostic opportunity. Because we firmly believe that no patient should be left behind.”

“At Gilead, we will continue to work in a coordinated manner with all agencies and organizations to achieve eradication. As part of this, we have expanded our activities against viral hepatitis to now launch Hepatitis Delta, more serious and more rapidly progressing, “This affects many young patients whose health and quality of life sharply deteriorate, and who today have new hope for an improvement in their life prognosis,” recalls Marta Velazquez.

In Spain, Gilead followed the recommendations of scientific societies and supported regional eradication plans and specialists in these projects seeking to achieve eradication of the disease. Thus, among these projects, it is worth highlighting the “Gilead Fellowships for Hepatitis C Microelimination” and “Hepatitis D Epidemiology” projects, which, together with AEEH, just failed yours 6th competition – 14 projects; or Detect-S, a project in collaboration with Socidrogalcohol, through which diagnostic kits are provided to those centers that serve vulnerable populations.