Recent Advancement in the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

Currently, the most widely prescribed standard therapy for chronic hepatitis C consists of pegylated-interferon combined with ribavirin. Although the response rate to interferon-based treatments has improved since interferon monotherapy was first combined with ribavirin, and then pegylated-interferon was adopted, patients eligible for this treatment are limited; the side effects are unbearable in some patients, and the response rates are still unsatisfactory for those who have unfavorable clinical features. Achievements in molecular research have led to the discovery of enormous molecules with anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) activity. Telaprevir, boceprevir, simeprevir, and sofosbuvir have already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and many new drugs are being evaluated in ongoing clinical trials. We review the clinical efficacy of approved new anti-HCV drugs, along with many promising treatment options under development.