Investigational drugs for hepatitis C.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects 180 million people worldwide. Standard anti-HCV therapy combines effect of pegylated IFN-alpha on immune response and antiviral activity of ribavirin. Sustained virological response rate achieved with this standard of care medication is around 50% for HCV genotype 1, the most prevalent worldwide genotype. So there is an obvious need to enhance efficacy of treatment.


METHODS
We describe novel treatment options studied within the recent few years, which are focused on inhibitors of HCV-specific enzymes such as NS3/4 protease and NS5B polymerase or influence host-virus interactions.


RESULTS
According to the most recent data, triple therapies consisted of pegylated interferons, ribavirin and protease inhibitors demonstrate significant improvement of treatment efficacy in comparison to current standard of care medication. Moreover, new forms of interferons and ribavirin, more effective, less toxic, and more convenient, become probably a fundamental component of anti-HCV therapy in the near future.


CONCLUSIONS
In coming years, we can expect that triple therapy becomes a standard medication, and treatment without interferon and/or ribavirin becomes a new studied therapeutic scenario.
Flisiak
Robert
R
Medical University of Bialystok, Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, 15-540 Bialystok, Poland. robert.flisiak@umwb.edu.pl
Parfieniuk
Anna
A
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a