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March 27, 2013 Doctors are desperate for better treatments for hepatitis C, which now affects about 4 million Americans. A new kind of drug that "mops up" molecules in the cells stopped the virus in a small clinical study, offering hope for a quicker cure with few side effects.

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January 14, 2013 Two out of three Americans living with hepatitis C infection are baby boomers, and many will never know the source of their infection. Drugs to treat the disease have many side effects, but dozens of new ones are in the pipeline.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

September 6, 2012 Testing everyone for HIV and then giving them early treatment could theoretically eliminate the epidemic in South Africa. A mathematical model of this "test and treat" strategy suggest that it might be more expensive and take significantly longer than previously predicted.

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July 30, 2012 About 1 in 500 people has a concave chest wall, a condition known as pectus excavatum, or sunken chest. A new experimental procedure could provide an alternative to painful and invasive surgeries for children.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

July 27, 2012 Many people living with HIV in the U.S. struggle to remain eligible for public assistance programs that pay for medication. For some that means avoiding full-time jobs or refusing pay raises so they can get coverage for the expensive drugs.

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On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

July 11, 2012 The mutation is rare but it appears to protect some people from developing the disease. The finding is an encouraging sign for drug researchers looking for medicines that have a similar effect in the brain.

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On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

June 22, 2012 Fibromyalgia patients have limited treatment options, but a Canadian study finds that those who self-medicate with marijuana were more likely to have poor mental health and to seek other drugs.

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April 19, 2012 Patients can often skip expensive treatments for simpler, cheaper alternatives. That's the gist of a new campaign from the American College of Physicians. But they've got to convince not just patients, but doctors, too.

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