[Therapy of hepatitis C]

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. Here, we will briefly review current and evolving therapies for chronic hepatitis C. Standard therapy with (pegylated) interferon-alpha and ribavirin achieves sustained response rates of up to about 40% in genotype 1- and about 80% in genotype 2- and 3-infected patients. Recent progress in the molecular virology and pathogenesis of hepatitis C has allowed the identification of novel antiviral targets and therapeutic strategies. These will likely complement existing therapeutic modalities in the near future.