New hepatitis C drugs may be approved by the FDA despite potential side effects

Although studies have shown that adding boceprevir to standard hepatitis C drug regimens improves an individual's chances of recovery, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to review the medication due to its potential risk of exacerbating anemia or blood disorders, according to a recent article published by the Wall Street Journal.

The newspaper explained that a panel of FDA members released a review of boceprevir noting that the drug enhanced the efficacy of hepatitis C treatments, although there was also an increased number of patients who reported that they experienced suicidal thoughts while taking the pills. However, these cases only accounted for less than 1 percent of the test population.

The news provider said that the panel will hold an upcoming vote to determine whether or not the group will recommend the drug for approval.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 3.2 million Americans have hepatitis C. The disease may be spread through unprotected sex acts or by the transmission of infected blood. The organization notes that an estimated one-third of intravenous drug users suffer from hepatitis C.