Today is World Hepatitis Day, a day to unite in raising awareness of the global burden caused by hepatitis and to inspire a greater, more impactful response. According to the WHO, over 350 million people worldwide live with hepatitis B or C. To achieve elimination goals by 2030, access to testing and treatment must be expanded.
Our Chief Scientific Officer at API, Nobel Laureate Sir Michael Houghton, discovered the hepatitis C (HCV) virus in 1989. At that time, thousands of people worldwide were being infected with HCV every day through blood transfusions, with 5-10% progressing to life-threatening liver disease.
Before joining the US Chiron Corporation, Dr. Houghton worked on the molecular biology of interferon genes in the UK, where he believed that his experience could be successfully applied to the discovery of the elusive HCV virus. Working with his colleagues, Qui-Lim Choo, and George Kuo, at the US Chiron Corporation and in collaboration with the US CDC’s Daniel Bradley, Dr. Houghton faced numerous unsuccessful attempts over seven intensive years. Ultimately, a breakthrough came through a new approach based on blind immunoscreening, leading to the successful identification of the HCV genome. This pivotal discovery enabled the development of blood tests, antivirals, and the hope of an HCV preventative in the near future.
There was no single eureka moment. Convincing themselves that they had truly identified HCV took many months, and it took several more months to convince the global scientific community. Reflecting on this period, Dr. Houghton said, “Afterwards, I floated on air for several years!”
Since Dr. Houghton’s discovery, the rapid development of highly effective HCV blood tests has prevented HCV infection via blood transfusion and blood products, protecting the world’s blood supplies and saving countless lives globally. Over the years, this discovery paved the way for the creation of curative HCV antivirals by Gilead Inc. Now, we look forward to the delivery of an HCV preventative by 2030, thanks to the ongoing collaboration between Dr. Houghton’s labs at the University of Alberta and our team at API.
API remains dedicated to bridging the gap between academia and commercialization, transforming trailblazing discoveries into life-saving products. Ready to advance your innovation? Get in touch with our team.