Challenges and successes in developing new therapies for hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) will continue to be a serious global health threat for many years to come because of the chronic nature of the infection, its high prevalence and the significant morbidity of the resulting disease. Recently, a small number of molecules have produced encouraging results in proof-of-concept clinical trials. At the same time, preclinical evidence is accumulating that development of resistance will eventually limit the efficacy of new drugs. Thus, combinations of multiple agents will be required to treat chronic HCV infection.
De Francesco
Raffaele
R
Istituto di Ricerche di Biologia Molecolare P. Angeletti, Via Pontina km 30.600, 00040 Pomezia-Rome, Italy. raffaele_defrancesco@merck.com
Migliaccio
Giovanni
G
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000819:agonists; D034622:RNA Interference; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000819:agonists; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors