A NEW study from The Westmead Institute for Medical Research suggests a promising target for treating chronic viral hepatitis, a disease affecting 450,000 Australians and claiming 1,000 lives annually.
Researchers found that the TM6SF2 gene, already linked to fatty liver disease, might also play a role in the spread of hepatitis B, C, and D viruses.
Led by Prof Mark Douglas and A/Prof Thomas Tu, the team discovered that reducing the effectiveness of TM6SF2 in lab tests significantly decreased the number of virus particles leaving the liver.
Further studies are needed to develop a safe drug targeting this gene, but the approach holds potential to transform hepatitis treatment worldwide.
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