Authors:
Judy Lieberman, M.D., Ph.D. and Peter Sarnow, Ph.D.
First 100 Words of Article:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV), a positive-stranded RNA flavivirus, persistently infects approximately 170 million persons worldwide and can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The approval of two HCV protease inhibitors, telaprevir and boceprevir, by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011 dramatically improved therapy. These drugs are used in combination with pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin.1 Although protease inhibitors have greatly enhanced the sustained viral response rate, these inhibitors are active against only the dominant viral genotype found in North America and Europe (genotype 1), and about a third of patients with genotype 1 infection do not have sustained . . .
Source:
The New England Journal of Medicine; (03/27/13)