title: Daclatasvir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Following more than 20 years of Interferon (IFN)-based treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV), the understanding of viral life cycle led to the development of new antiviral drugs directly targeting HCV replication steps. Daclatasvir (DCV) is a potent inhibitor of non-structural NS5A HCV protein with pangenotypic activity and low-moderate barrier to resistance suitable for IFN-free combination with other direct acting antivirals (DAAs).
  
  
  METHODS
  The present review summarizes DCV key pharmacokinetic features and results from Phase II and III trials, discussing also NS5A resistance. Main literature articles have been identified through Pubmed and Medline search; moreover, abstracts from recent international meetings on liver disease have been scrutinized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DCV in combination with other DAAs has provided IFN-free regimens with increased efficacy and tolerability. However, suboptimal barrier to resistance and the rapid development of new second-generation NS5A inhibitors will probably make DCV a relatively short-lived drug.
authors.affiliation: a Centro A.M. e A. Migliavacca, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Università degli Studi di Milano , Via F. Sforza 35, 20122 , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Degasperi
authors.affiliation: a Centro A.M. e A. Migliavacca, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Università degli Studi di Milano , Via F. Sforza 35, 20122 , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aghemo
authors.affiliation: a Centro A.M. e A. Migliavacca, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Università degli Studi di Milano , Via F. Sforza 35, 20122 , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002219:Carbamates; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D002219:Carbamates; D007093:Imidazoles; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D014633:Valine; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C087036:NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase; C549273:daclatasvir
keywords: NS5A; daclatasvir; direct acting antivirals; hepatitis C