title: Is hepatitis C virus eradication around the corner only 25 years after its discovery?
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), identified approximately 25 years ago, is recognised as the cause of several clinical conditions besides chronic hepatitis. New compounds with direct antiviral activity have recently been introduced. These drugs promise to outdo old therapies based on interferon and ribavirin both in terms of improved safety and virological response. In fact, these drugs may pave the way to complete eradication of the disease. However, their actual price is exceedingly high and a strategy is necessary to guarantee wide and sustainable access to new therapies.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ippolito
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Capobianchi
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lanini
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, 'Sapienza' University, Viale di Porta Tiburtina 28, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: guido.antonelli@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonelli
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016527:Drug Costs; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents
keywords: Antiviral therapy; HCV; Hepatitis C virus