Molecular virology of the hepatitis C virus: implication for novel therapies

With the advent of second-generation agents that for the first time specifically target individual HCV proteins, HCV-specific therapy has arrived. The study of HCV molecular virology has helped make this possible and is helping us to identify additional new antiviral targets that will be targeted by third-generation drugs. Key to these efforts is the development of high-efficiency HCV replicons. The future effective pharmacologic control of HCV will likely consist of a cocktail of simultaneously administered virus-specific agents with independent targets. This should minimize the emergence of resistance against any single agent. The way we treat HCV should change dramatically over the next few years.