ORAL ENZYME THERAPY IN HEPATITIS-C PATIENTS

In an open, randomized, clinical pilot trial, four groups with 20 hepa titis C patients each were treated with either 'liver support' therapy , with established medications (one group with ribavirin, one group wi th alpha-interferon), or with a novel oral test drug, Phlogenzym(R), a combination of hydrolytic enzymes with the flavonoid rutosid. The liv er transaminases, AST; ALT; and S-gamma-GT markedly improved over the period of three months in the three drug groups, but only marginally i n the liver support group. The best results were found with Phiogenzym (R), which was even superior to ribavirin and alpha-interferon. The to lerance of the oral enzymes was excellent. Further clinical trials wit h longer observation times, greater numbers of patients, double-blind and partly placebo-controlled, are under way.