Novel therapies for hepatitis C: insights from the structure of the virus

For the first time since the discovery of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), therapeutic options for hepatitis C have expanded. Several agents directly effective against HCV are now in development, including both direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) and host cofactor inhibitors. DAAs have been developed to inhibit several HCV proteins, including the NS3/4A serine protease, the NS5B RNA polymerase, NS5A, and NS4B. Host cofactor inhibitors include, but are not limited to, cyclophilin inhibitors, miR122 antagonists, and statins. Development of these agents represents a major advance in HCV therapeutics. This review provides a guide to HCV drugs in various stages of development, including an introduction to their mechanism of action, state of clinical development, efficacy, and side effects.