摘要
Hepatitis C infection can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and it is an important cause of mortality and morbidity. Achieving a sustained virological response has been the major aim for decades. Interferon treatment was the primarily developed therapy against the infection. Addition of the guanosine analog ribavirin to stop viral RNA synthesis increased the response rates as well as the adverse effects of the treatment. The increasing demands for alternative regimens led to the development of direct-acting antivirals(DAAs). The approval of sofosbuvir and simeprevir signaled a new era of antiviral treatment for hepatitis C infection. Although the majority of studies have been performed with DAAs in combination with interferon and resulted in a decrease in treatment duration and increase in response rates, the response rates achieved with interferon-free regimens provided hope for patients ineligible for therapy with interferon. Most DAA studies are in phase Ⅱ leading to phase Ⅲ. In the near future more DAAs are expected to be approved. The main disadvantage of the therapy remains the cost of the drugs. Here, we focus on new treatment strategies for hepatitis C infection as well as agents targeting hepatitis C virus replication that are in clinical development.
Hepatitis C infection can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellularcarcinoma and it is an important cause ofmortality and morbidity. Achieving a sustained virologicalresponse has been the major aim for decades. Interferontreatment was the primarily developed therapy againstthe infection. Addition of the guanosine analog ribavirinto stop viral RNA synthesis increased the responserates as well as the adverse effects of the treatment.The increasing demands for alternative regimens led tothe development of direct-acting antivirals （DAAs）. Theapproval of sofosbuvir and simeprevir signaled a new eraof antiviral treatment for hepatitis C infection. Althoughthe majority of studies have been performed with DAAsin combination with interferon and resulted in a decreasein treatment duration and increase in response rates, theresponse rates achieved with interferon-free regimensprovided hope for patients ineligible for therapy withinterferon. Most DAA studies are in phase Ⅱ leading tophase Ⅲ. In the near future more DAAs are expectedto be approved. The main disadvantage of the therapyremains the cost of the drugs. Here, we focus on newtreatment strategies for hepatitis C infection as well asagents targeting hepatitis C virus replication that are inclinical development.
