For now, an Ebola vaccine is pure fiction. There are experimental drugs, but no vaccines or medicines. Three vaccines are in development. Still, according to the CDC, an Ebola vaccine is likely at least a year away from heading to trial stages. Treatments that can improve the chance of survival do exist, including administering IV fluids, maintaining blood pressure and oxygen, and treating infections. And some patients are lucky enough to spontaneously recover.
But luck isn’t enough, is it.
Researcher working with the Ebola virus
In the midst of all the fear and bad news about Ebola is some positive medical news: A drug company was recently given approval to sell a new Hepatitis C drug.
When I wrote Raw Justice, there were no cures for Hepatitis C. The disease is deadly. In Raw Justice, a cure is developed and then stolen. Again, pure fiction. Until now.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Gilead Sciences will be the first to sell a pill that should cure most Hep C patients. Harvoni costs $94,500 for the typical patient. That’s a lot. But, what’s different about Harvoni compared to previous Hepatitis C treatments, is that Harvoni doesn’t need to be combined with other drugs. The patient takes it for 12 weeks and then, typically, is cured.
Finally, fact has caught up with fiction on Hepatitis C!
One day, and soon, I hope we’ll be able to classify an Ebola cure as nonfiction, too.
Comments are closed.