Investigational drugs for hepatitis C.

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects 180 million people worldwide. Standard anti-HCV therapy combines effect of pegylated IFN-alpha on immune response and antiviral activity of ribavirin. Sustained virological response rate achieved with this standard of care medication is around 50% for HCV genotype 1, the most prevalent worldwide genotype. So there is an obvious need to enhance efficacy of treatment.

AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW: We describe novel treatment options studied within the recent few years, which are focused on inhibitors of HCV-specific enzymes such as NS3/4 protease and NS5B polymerase or influence host-virus interactions.

WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN: According to the most recent data, triple therapies consisted of pegylated interferons, ribavirin and protease inhibitors demonstrate significant improvement of treatment efficacy in comparison to current standard of care medication. Moreover, new forms of interferons and ribavirin, more effective, less toxic, and more convenient, become probably a fundamental component of anti-HCV therapy in the near future.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE: In coming years, we can expect that triple therapy becomes a standard medication, and treatment without interferon and/or ribavirin becomes a new studied therapeutic scenario.