title: Hepatitis C virus NS3 inhibitors: current and future perspectives.
abstract: Currently, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is considered a serious health-care problem all over the world. A good number of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) against HCV infection are in clinical progress including NS3-4A protease inhibitors, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitors, and NS5A inhibitors as well as host targeted inhibitors. Two NS3-4A protease inhibitors (telaprevir and boceprevir) have been recently approved for the treatment of hepatitis C in combination with standard of care (pegylated interferon plus ribavirin). The new therapy has significantly improved sustained virologic response (SVR); however, the adverse effects associated with this therapy are still the main concern. In addition to the emergence of viral resistance, other targets must be continually developed. One such underdeveloped target is the helicase portion of the HCV NS3 protein. This review article summarizes our current understanding of HCV treatment, particularly with those of NS3 inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Radioisotope Center, The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazi Abdus
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Salam
authors.forename: Nobuyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akimitsu
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase; D012254:Ribavirin; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C084422:NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases; C486464:telaprevir