Challenge Seeks Increase in Hepatitis C Treatment

Microscopic view of the hepatitis C virus (VA.gov)

A new challenge at InnoCentive, a company that conducts challenge contests for sponsoring organizations, seeks ways to increase the treatment rate of hepatitis C in Europe. The sponsor of this challenge, with a prize of $15,000, is not disclosed. The deadline for submissions is 22 August 2011.

InnoCentive says the goal of the challenge is to encourage a sustainable increase in the treatment rate and in the number of treated patients with hepatitis C in Europe. The sponsor is seeking ways to raise awareness of the importance to diagnose and treat hepatitis C among medical professionals, health care regulators, and general public.

Competitors need to respond with a written proposal, with proposals evaluated and the winning entry selected by the sponsor. Also, the winner is expected to grant a non-exclusive intellectual-property license to the sponsor to implement the selected solution.

Hepatitis C is a viral disease that leads to inflammation of the liver. Those most at risk include patients on long-term kidney dialysis, health care workers or others who work regularly with blood or blood products, people who inject drugs and share needles with others who have hepatitis C, and people with many sex partners who may have hepatitis C.

World Health Organization says the incidence of hepatitis C on a global scale is unknown because even acute infections are generally asymptomatic. The agency estimates 2 to 4 million people in the U.S. and 5 to 10 million in Europe are infected and may not know it. About 150 000 new cases occur annually in the U.S. and in Western Europe.

Read more: FDA Approves Hepatitis C Virus Test

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