Advances in and the future of treatments for hepatitis C. (August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheng, Robert; Tu, Thomas; Shackel, Nicholas; McCaughan, Geoffrey W
• Is Part Of: Expert review of gastroenterology & hepatology. Volume 8:Number 6(2014)
• Page Start: 633
• Page End: 647
• Publication Date: 2014-08
• Subjects: Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.3
• DOI: 10.1586/17474124.2014.909725
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1747-4124

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Enormous progress has been made in the understanding of the hepatitis C virus and the development of novel therapeutic agents since the identification of the virus 25 years ago. From initial interferon monotherapy providing only 6% viral clearance rate in the 1980s, pharmacotherapeutics has now entered an exciting new era with direct-acting antiviral agents demonstrating viral clearance rates of more than 70%. We are now at the beginning of an era where combinations of direct-acting antiviral agents may pave the way for interferon-free regimens, even improving the viral clearance rate to near 100%.</p> </abstract>