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Colorado Hepatitis C Support Groups
For individuals infected with hepatitis C and family members affected by hepatitis C. Free and confidential monthly meetings. New members always welcome.
Metro-Denver
New Downtown Denver
Whittier Community Center
2900 Downing St.
3rd Tuesday
6:00 - 7:30 pm
Leslie: (720) 560 4016
Englewood
Englewood Library
1000 Englewood Pkwy.
Last Tuesday
6:30 - 8 pm
Beverly: (720) 231-2264
Lakewood
Shepherd of the Hills Church
11500 W. 20th
2nd Wednesday
6:30 - 8 pm
Betsy: (303) 940-4901
Statewide
Boulder YWCA 2222 14th St. Main Floor Mtg. Rm. 2nd Wednesday 6 - 7:30 pm Debbie: (303) 817-4938 Fort Collins Poudre Valley Health Systems 2121 E. Harmony 3rd Floor Last Wednesday 6:30 - 8 pm Jerry: (970) 214-2912
Colorado Springs
3210 E. Woodmen Rd. Suite 110 3rd Tuesday
6 - 7:30 pm
Abby: (719) 761-3710 New Pueblo Parkview Medical Center, 2-East Conference Room 400 West 16th St. 5:30 - 7:00 pm Abby: (719) 761-3710 For information regarding support groups in other states, please call our HelpLine at 800-522-HEPC (4372)
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Dear Friend,
Welcome to the May 2013 edition of
Connections!
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May is Hepatitis Awareness Month | |
The Division of Viral Hepatitis at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is leading a national campaign called Know More Hepatitis. As part of the campaign, many viral hepatitis education, screening, and prevention events take place across the U.S. throughout the month. The division's goals are to increase awareness of viral hepatitis by educating the public about the burden of disease and risk factors. An online risk assessment tool that the CDC created produces a personalized report for individuals that includes recommendations for testing and vaccinations based off of a person's answers to various questions. Check it out here.
One of the events that takes place during Hepatitis Awareness Month is National Hepatitis Testing Day. Many organizations across the U.S., including Hep C Connection, will offer hepatitis C testing on National Hepatitis Testing Day and/or during the prior week because this year the date falls on a Sunday. Check out the 2013 events happening across the nation by clicking here. Please see below for information on National Hepatitis Testing Day sites in Colorado. |
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National Hepatitis Testing Day | |
An estimated 4 million individuals in the United States are infected with hepatitis C and most do not know it. National Hepatitis Testing Day is a day to educate the public about hepatitis C infection risk factors and to offer hepatitis C testing to persons with a risk factor. Nine organizations across Colorado have come together to offer free hepatitis C antibody testing on this day. We'll be using a rapid test so that clients know the result in 20 minutes.The following locations will offer FREE hepatitis C testing on May 17, 2013 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm:
Hep C Connection
1325 S. Colorado Blvd., B-302, Denver
Tri-County Health Department
15400 E. 14th Pl., 309, Aurora
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10190 Bannock #100, Northglenn
Denver Colorado AIDS Project
2490 W 26th Ave., 300A, Denver
Hey Denver
1720 Pearl St., Denver
Denver Public Health
630 Elati Street, Denver
Sisters of Color United for Education
2895 W. 8th Ave., Denver
Northern Colorado AIDS Project
400 Remington St., 100, Fort Collins
Western Colorado AIDS Project
805 Main St Grand Junction
Boulder County AIDS Project
2118 14th St., Boulder
Call Hep C Connection's HelpLine, 1-800-522-HEPC (4372), for more information on National Testing Day. |
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Upcoming Events |
Tuesday, May 7
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
HCV Testing Event
This is one of many testing events to get baby boomers tested for hepatitis C. Hep C Connection staff will offer free hepatitis C testing to employees at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends anyone born between 1945 and 1965 be tested for hepatitis C at least once. If you work in Colorado and would like to host a testing event at your work place please contact Hep C Connection at (303) 860-0800.
Location: 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO
Friday, May 10
1:00 - 4:30 PM
 This is a class for nonprofit and health professionals that work with clients that may be at risk for acquiring a hepatitis C infection. You'll learn about the basics of hepatitis B and C, how to identify who is at risk, diagnostic tests and understanding results, risk reduction counseling, referrals to local resources and Program Collaboration and Service Integration. Location: Yampa Valley Medical Center, Conference Rm. # 1, 1024 Central Park Drive, Steamboat Springs, CO
Thursday, May 16
7:00 am - 12:00 pm
9Health Fair IEC
 Hep C Connection staff and volunteers will be providing information on hepatitis C, referrals to local resources such us how to access medical care, support groups, and testing services. Stop by our both and say hi! Location: Adams City Middle School,4451 E. 72nd Ave.,Commerce City, CO
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Colorado Has Two New HCV Support Groups | |
There are two new hepatitis C support groups in Colorado - one in Denver and one in Pueblo! Hep C Connection's support groups are places to seek support, encouragement and knowledge. They are free, confidential, and led by professional support group leaders. Anyone affected by the hepatitis C virus, including friends and family members, may attend. We recommend calling the support group leader or Hep C Connection's HelpLine (1-800-522-4372) before attending.
Denver Information
Where: Whittier Community Center, 2900 Downing Street
When: 3rd Tuesday of the month
Time: 6:00 to 7:30 pm
Contact: Leslie, (720) 560-4016
Pueblo Information
Where: Parkview Medical Center, 2-East Conference Room, 400 W. 16th St.
When: 3rd Thursday of the month
Time: 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Contact: Abby, (719) 761-3710
Please find the information on the other HCV support groups in Colorado at the top left-hand side of this e-newsletter. |
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Articles of Interest | |
Janssen Submits New Drug Application to U.S. FDA for Simeprevir (TMC435) for Combination Treatment of Adult Patients with Genotype 1 Chronic Hepatitis C
3/28/2013 / PR Newswire
Janssen recently submitted a new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If approved by the FDA, simeprevir which is a protease inhibitor, will be taken with pegylated interferon and ribavirin by adult patients to treat a genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C infection.
Read the full article here.
Gilead Submits New Drug Application to U.S. FDA for Sofosbuvir for the Treatment of Hepatitis C
4/8/2013 / Gilead Press Release
An all oral regimen for treatment of chronic hepatitis C is in the near future. If approved, an all oral regimen, that includes sofosbuvir and ribavirin will be available for patients with a genotype 2 or 3 chronic hepatitis C infection. For genotype 1, 4, 5, and 6, sofosbuvir will be taken with ribavirin and pegylated interferon. Read the full press release here.
Boehringer Ingelheim's Faldaprevir-Based Treatment Regimen Achieved Viral Cure in up to 80 Percent of Patients with Hepatitis C in Phase 3 Pivotal Trial
4/23/2013 / Boehringer Ingelheim Press Release
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s released a press release of its STARTVerso(TM) 1 study results. They compared a combination of pegylated interferon, ribavirin, and placebo to two different dosages of faldaprevir in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin among patients with genotype 1. Sustained virologic response rates in the groups that received faldaprevir were statistically different than the group that did not receive faldaprevir and many of the patients qualified for shorter treatment time. Read the full press release here. |
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Featured Clinical Trials |
Hep C Connection features one or more clinical trials happening in the Denver-Metro area in each issue. For more information call the contact person listed below. To find clinical trials in your city, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov or call us at 1-800-522-HEPC and we can walk you through the website.
University of Colorado Hospital invites you to call Michael Cookson at (303) 724-1876 if you are interested in participating in a clinical trial at the Hospital.
South Denver Gastroenterology, PC is currently recruiting for the following three studies -
A Phase 3 study that evaluates the efficacy and safety of Sofosbuvir/GS-5885 with or without Ribavirin for 12 and 24 Weeks. Eligible patients have a genotype 1 hepatitis C virus infection and have never been treated for the infection.
A Phase 2 study that evaluates the efficacy and safety of the combination regimen of MK-5172 and MK-8742 with or without Ribavirin (RBV). Eligible patients have a chronic hepatitis C virus infection and have never been treated for the infection.
And, a study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Rifaximin 550 mg with and without lactulose in subjects with a history of recurrent overt hepatic encephalopathy.
If interested in any of these three studies, please contact Sherry Rogers, CRC at South Denver Gastroenterology, PC, 303-406-4139. |
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Meet Hep C Connection's Development Intern |
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Emmylou Babcock, Hep C Connection's Development Intern |
We have begun planning our 2013 major fundraiser even, Desserts & Delights - Along the Yellow Brick Road. Emmylou Babcock, Hep C Connection's Development Intern, is working to gather and solicit donations for the auction. She reaches out to local businesses for their help in showcasing the best Colorado has to offer for the auction. Emmy is a recent graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder where she majored in International Affairs with an emphasis on Geopolitics and National Security and a geographic concentration on Latin America. She can mostly be found in or around a swimming pool; in addition to swimming most of the time, she is also a swim coach for Wheat Ridge High School.
Please contact Sascha Larsen-Helbing at slh@hepc-connection.org if you or someone you know would like to donate to the auction or help plan the event. We are currently seeking a year membership to a metro Denver gym, airfare to New York City, and tickets to various theater productions in Denver. |
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