Irritability, apathy, depression, and other mental changes also occur and prevent use of the therapy in some patients. Rarely, serious side effects such as autoimmune disease, depression with suicidal risk, seizures, acute kidney failure, eye diseases, scarring of lung tissue, hearing impairment, and serious infections, can occur. Over one-fourth of patients receiving interferon combination therapy in clinical trials required a change in their regimen due to side effects. While new agents are likely to offer some improvements in efficacy and convenience over the current regimens, further improvements in effectiveness, safety, and convenience of HCV therapy remain highly desirable. While HCV may remain silent for many years, it has serious long-term consequences for afflicted individuals.
Liver transplant is the only available treatment for patients who develop severe cirrhosis.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements are based on Human Genome Sciences' current intent, belief and expectations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements because of the company's unproven business model, dependence on new technologies, uncertainty as to clinical trial results, ability to develop and commercialize products, dependence on collaborators for services and revenue, substantial indebtedness, intense competition, uncertainty of patent and intellectual property protection, dependence on key management, uncertainty of regulation of products, dependence on key suppliers and other risks that may be described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of today's date.