Current and future concepts in hepatitis C therapy

The goal of hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy is permanent viral eradication. This requires the use of drug combinations with multiple modes of action. Steady-state HCV replication kinetics can be disrupted by drugs that inhibit virus production (antiviral molecules), inhibit de novo cell infection, and/or accelerate the clearance of infected cells. Pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin combine all of these mechanisms of action when used together, yet fail to clear HCV from a significant number of patients. New therapeutic approaches are needed. The next generation of anti-HCV therapeutic agents will fall into four main categories: new interferons and interferon inducers, alternatives to ribavirin, specific HCV inhibitors, and immune therapies. Ideally, these new treatments will increase the rate of sustained viral eradication and improve tolerability and acceptability. Drug combinations will be tailored to the individual patient, based on baseline parameters and viral kinetics during therapy.