title: Grazoprevir/elbasvir fixed-dose combination for hepatitis C.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an increasing public health concern with an estimated 184 million people infected worldwide and approximately 350,000 deaths yearly from HCV-related complications. There is a compelling medical need for new anti-HCV therapeutic agents that are potent, tolerable, safe, completely oral and with shorter treatment duration. To this end, a plethora of direct-acting antivirals have been developed and regulatory authorities have approved nine new molecules for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). In January 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the fixed-dose combination medication incorporating the NS3/NS4A inhibitor grazoprevir (formerly MK-5172) and the NS5A inhibitor elbasvir (formerly MK-8742), with or without ribavirin, for the treatment of CHC genotypes 1 and 4 infection in adult patients. This all-oral combination has proven potent and safe even in patients with advanced kidney disease. Herein, we review the pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and safety profile pertaining to grazoprevir/elbasvir fixed-dose combination for CHC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical & Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gamal
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical & Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. pietro.andreone@unibo.it.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andreone
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002219:Carbamates; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013449:Sulfonamides; D047029:Lactams, Macrocyclic
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001572:Benzofurans; D002219:Carbamates; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007093:Imidazoles; D011810:Quinoxalines; D013449:Sulfonamides; C578009:grazoprevir; D047029:Lactams, Macrocyclic; C000589335:elbasvir
keywords: Elbasvir; Fixed-dose combination; Grazoprevir; Hepatitic C virus (HCV); NS3/NS4A – NS5A