January 30, 2014

What is the future of ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C?

Antiviral Res. 2014 Jan 24. pii: S0166-3542(14)00017-5. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2014.01.005. [Epub ahead of print]

Koh C1, Jake Liang T2.

Abstract

With the introduction of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, the field is rapidly evolving towards interferon-free regimens with high sustained virologic response (SVR) rates. The ultimate goal of therapy in chronic HCV should include an easily dosed all-oral regimen that is highly effective, inexpensive, pan-genotypic, safe and tolerable, with minimal to no resistance. Various investigational DAA regimens are currently evaluating therapeutic combinations with and without ribavirin (Rbv). With the projected arrival of improved therapies over the next 5 years, the future role of ribavirin comes into question. Despite being plagued by the lack of understanding of its mechanism of action and significant side effects such as anemia, Rbv has been a part of the standard-of-care therapies in chronic HCV infection for almost 10 years. As we look towards the future HCV therapy, Rbv may still have utility in the care of patients infected with HCV because of its low cost and potentially added value in combination with other DAAs. This article forms part of a symposium in Antiviral Research on "Hepatitis C: next steps toward global eradication."

Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

KEYWORDS: ALT, Alanine Aminotransferase, Antiviral therapy, Chronic hepatitis C, DAA, DNA, Deoxyribonucleic Acid, Direct-Acting Antiviral, Direct-acting antivirals, FDA, Food and Drug Administration, HCV, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis C virus, RNA, RSV, Rbv, Ribavirin, Ribonucleic Acid, SVR, Sustained Virological Response, respiratory syncytial virus

PMID: 24468277 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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