Officials say the virus can cause severe liver disease in people already living with hepatitis B.
A man receiving a hepatitis vaccine. PHOTO: ARCHIVE
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan’s Health Ministry will fast-track regulatory approvals to allow Phase III clinical trials of a new treatment for hepatitis delta, amid warnings that the virus is a growing threat to public health.
The decision was made at a high-level meeting chaired by Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal and attended by representatives of Chinese pharmaceutical company Huahui Health. The company briefed officials on its hepatitis delta therapy, HH-003, which has successfully completed international Phase II trials and is approved in China for its safety and effectiveness.
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Minister Kamal described hepatitis delta as a “unique and dangerous” virus that affects the liver only in patients with hepatitis B. He said more than a million Pakistanis are affected and warned that delays in diagnosis and treatment can lead to serious complications, including liver cancer.
Officials said about 20% of hepatitis B patients in Pakistan may also be carriers of hepatitis delta, but limited access to routine testing delays diagnosis. Minister Kamal said the government is taking steps to provide the medicine affordably and ensure access to safe, high-quality and life-saving treatments.
The Pakistan Drug Regulatory Authority will oversee a transparent approval process based on scientific and international standards. Officials agreed to accelerate Phase III trials to give the treatment to eligible patients quickly under close supervision.
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The government will promote partnerships between Huahui Health and local pharmaceutical companies to support domestic production of advanced biologic drugs and facilitate technology transfer.
