Treatment and vaccination for hepatitis C: present and future

Hepatitis C is caused by Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), detriments the quality of life of 170 million people around the globe. Although, much has been known about the biology of the virus in recent years, a complete cure of hepatitis C remains difficult in a large majority of patients. The current treatment regimen comprising pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin has sub-optimal effectiveness especially in patients infected with HCV genotype 1. The development of an effective vaccine against the virus as well as a potent anti-viral therapy remains urgently needed. Herein, we give a brief overview of the molecular biology of hepatitis C and the postulated mechanisms of hepatitis C pathogenesis. The issues surrounding the current treatment of hepatic C, the promising new therapies on the horizon and the experimental strategies to develop a vaccine have also been discussed in a greater detail.