The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) board has approved $83 million in funding for research on hepatitis C virus and other diseases, the group announced Sept. 28.
Two of the 26 awards, totaling $29.5 million, will be used towards studies on caring for HCV patients, PCORI said in a statement.
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The HCV awards were the result of a “targeted funding opportunity PCORI issued in response to input from the health care community, which identified HCV infection as a top health concern,” the statement said. PCORI is an independent, nonprofit organization based in Washington.
Studies will focus on comparing different antiviral medication regimens and improving treatment adherence in injection drug users.
“New oral medications for HCV offer significant improvements over previous therapies, but they were tested in specialized settings with carefully selected groups of patients,” PCORI said. The group hopes the grants will help close these research gaps and provide evidence of long-term efficacy, so patients and providers can make informed treatment decisions.
The HCV trials “will involve national advocacy organizations, major professional associations, payers, or other key patient and stakeholder groups in their research design and implementation,” PCORI said.
Read more at the PCORI website.