title: Beclabuvir for the treatment of hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  About 185,000,000 people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Currently, the most successful HCV infection antiviral therapies reduce the chance of progression towards the advanced phases of the hepatopathy (liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and death). Recently, however, several new direct-acting antivirals against HCV are available or are in an advanced phase of clinical development.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review focuses on beclabuvir , an allosteric non-nucleotide inhibitor of HCV polymerase. The article covers its pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action, in addition to its tolerability and safety profile as well as its resistance pattern.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pharmacokinetic, efficacy and tolerability profile of beclabuvir, as well as its barrier to resistance, are very favorable. In particular, the combination of beclabuvir with asunaprevir and daclatasvir achieves very high rates of viral eradication (about 90%) in patients infected with HCV genotype 1, which is the most common genotype worldwide. Therefore, beclabuvir represents a powerful weapon against HCV infection and has to be considered an optimal option in tailored IFN-free combinations.
authors.affiliation: University of Naples 'Federico II,' Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery , via S. Pansini 5, I-80131 Naples , Italy +39 0 81 7463178 ; +39 0 81 7463190 ; ivan.gentile@unina.it.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zappulo
authors.forename: Antonio Riccardo
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Buonomo
authors.forename: Alberto Enrico
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Maraolo
authors.forename: Guglielmo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borgia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: C587012:8-cyclohexyl-N-((dimethylamino)sulfonyl)-1,1a,2,12b-tetrahydro-11-methoxy-1a-((3-methyl-3,8-diazabicyclo(3.2.1)oct-8-yl)carbonyl)cycloprop(d)indolo(2,1-a)(2)benzazepine-5-carboxamide; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001552:Benzazepines; D007211:Indoles
keywords: BMS-791325; IFN-free combinations; NS5B polymerase inhibitors; allosteric; antivirals; direct-acting antiviral agent; eradication; hepatitis C virus