Committed to hepatology

The burden:

Hepatitis B and C are among the most common viral infections in the world. About 325 million worldwide in 2015 –are carriers of hepatitis B or C virus infections, which can remain asymptomatic for decades.^1,2

Every day, approximately 4,000 people die from the consequences of viral hepatitis – 1.4 million people every year.³ Furthermore, each year, 1.75 million people newly acquire hepatitis C virus infection. The disease caused 1.34 million deaths in 2015, a number comparable to annual deaths caused by tuberculosis and higher than those caused by HIV.²

95% of people living with viral hepatitis do not know.
 

In 2016, the World Health Assembly adopted WHO’s first “Global Health Sector Strategy on viral hepatitis,” with elimination as its overarching vision.

Vision, goal and targets

Vision:

A world where viral hepatitis transmission is halted and everyone living with viral hepatitis has access to safe, affordable and effective prevention, care and treatment services.

Goal: 

Eliminate viral hepatitis as a major public health threat by 2030.

Targets: 

Between 6 and 10 million infections are reduced to less than 1 million by 2030; 1.4 million deaths reduced to less than 500 000 by 2030.4

Roche is committed to fighting viral hepatitis, offering a complete continuum of care for the diagnosis and treatment of HCV and HBV. This starts with a focus on  serology based testing for screening and diagnosis followed by PCR testing for confirmation and genotyping (only HCV) and viral load monitoring to determine patient response to treatment.

Roche committed to the elimination of hepatitis

To advance global efforts and combat viral hepatitis, Roche stands alongside the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and Duke Health to participate in a unique and innovative partnership, the Quick-Start program. The ground-breaking program underscores Roche’s ongoing commitment to provide life-saving diagnostics, and supports the governments of Ethiopia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Vietnam aiming to cure 25,000 people of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) within the next two years. To attain this goal, the Quick-Start program will focus on establishing successful treatment programs, significantly reduce the costs of diagnosing HCV, and accelerate access to HCV treatment. Roche is a leader in viral load testing and is committed to enabling improved patient management by delivering innovative, high-quality diagnostic products where they are needed most. For more information on Roche’s involvement in combatting viral hepatitis, or if you would like more information on the Quick-Start program, click here.