BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a serious health problem worldwide. The current standard treatment of HCV infection is pegylated interferon-alpha plus ribavirin, but this is clearly not sufficiently effective and tolerable. OBJECTIVE: To review current HCV treatment strategies and future options. METHODS: Review of major clinical trials or observational studies when no trial is available. RESULTS/ CONCLUSION: Rates of sustained virologic response are widely variable, approximately 40-80%, depending on genotype, and even lower when HIV coinfection occurs. New agents, like small molecules that specifically target the HCV life cycle, may improve response rates; but safety is a concern.
BACKGROUND:Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a serious health problem worldwide. The current standard treatment of HCV infection is pegylated interferon-alpha plus ribavirin, but this is clearly not sufficiently effective and tolerable. OBJECTIVE: To review current HCV treatment strategies and future options. METHODS: Review of major clinical trials or observational studies when no trial is available. RESULTS/ CONCLUSION: Rates of sustained virologic response are widely variable, approximately 40-80%, depending on genotype, and even lower when HIV coinfection occurs. New agents, like small molecules that specifically target the HCV life cycle, may improve response rates; but safety is a concern.
Authors: Wonsuk Chang; Donghui Bao; Byoung-Kwon Chun; Devan Naduthambi; Dhanapalan Nagarathnam; Suguna Rachakonda; P Ganapati Reddy; Bruce S Ross; Hai-Ren Zhang; Shalini Bansal; Christine L Espiritu; Meg Keilman; Angela M Lam; Congrong Niu; Holly Micolochick Steuer; Phillip A Furman; Michael J Otto; Michael J Sofia Journal: ACS Med Chem Lett Date: 2010-12-17 Impact factor: 4.345