A Focus on Hepatitis C: Novel Therapeutic Regimens

A Focus on Hepatitis C: Novel Therapeutic Regimens
In the second part of this three-part series, Dr William Balistreri continues his discussion of hepatitis C with a review of new antiviral agents and novel therapeutic strategies.
Medscape Gastroenterology, March 22, 2016

Antivirals for HCV

Novel therapeutic strategies directed against HCV are based on a cocktail of DAAs that are most commonly used in fixed-dose combinations and constructed on the basis of their synergistic mechanisms of action. They are highly effective against the entire spectrum of HCV genotypes and patient populations.

The currently or soon to be available antiviral agents are outlined below and include NS3/4A protease inhibitors, which act by interrupting the HCV life cycle; NS5A inhibitors, which block the HCV replication complex and the assembly and release of HCV particles; nucleotide inhibitors, which cause HCV synthesis chain termination; and nonnucleoside inhibitors, which block HCV replication.

• Simeprevir—an oral NS3/4A protease inhibitor;
• Paritaprevir—an NS3 protease inhibitor, combined with low-dose ritonavir;
• Asunaprevir—an NS3 protease inhibitor;
• Grazoprevir (GZR)—an NS3/4A protease inhibitor;
• Ledipasvir (LDV)—an NS5A inhibitor;
• Daclatasvir (DCV)—a pangenotypic NS5A replication complex inhibitor;
• Elbasvir (EBR)—an NS5A replication complex inhibitor;
• Velpatasvir (VEL)—a pangenotypic inhibitor of the NS5A protein;
• Ombitasvir—an NS5A inhibitor;
• Sofosbuvir (SOF)—a uridine nucleotide analogue and a pangenotypic, selective inhibitor of NS5B polymerase; and
• Dasabuvir—a nonnucleoside NS5B polymerase inhibitor.

Continue reading part two; A Focus on Hepatitis C: Novel Therapeutic Regimens
Part 1 focused on prevalence, screening methods, and access and barriers to care.