title: Anti-hepatitis C virus drugs in development.
abstract: Development of robust cell culture models for hepatitis C viral infection has greatly increased our understanding of this virus and its life cycle. This knowledge has led to the development of many drugs that target specific elements of viral replication, including viral proteins and host factors required for replication. The NS3/4A serine protease inhibitors were the first of these to be used in the clinic, and reagents that target other elements of the viral lifecycle are in advanced stages of clinical development. These include new NS3/4A protease inhibitors, NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitors, NS5A inhibitors, and host-directed antivirals, such as cyclophilin inhibitors. Alternative interferons with possibly improved tolerability, specifically interferon-λ1 (interleukin-29), are also under development. These new reagents against hepatitis C virus should lead to highly effective, well-tolerated, and likely interferon-sparing therapies in the next several years.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Medicine, Gastrointestinal Unit, Boston, USA. eschaefer@partners.org
authors.forename: Esperance A K
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Raymond T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D021983:Cyclophilins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D021983:Cyclophilins; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007372:Interferons; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C087036:NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase