Cheng KC, Gupta S, Wang H, Uss AS, Njoroge GF, Hughes E. Current drug discovery strategies for treatment of hepatitis C virus infection.
ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011;
63:883-92. [PMID:
21635253 DOI:
10.1111/j.2042-7158.2011.01267.x]
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents a major worldwide-health problem. The current standard of care is combination therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, which achieves a successful response in only approximately 40% of genotype I patients.
KEY FINDINGS
The biology of HCV infection has been under intensive research and important progress has been made in understanding the replication cycle of the virus. Several therapeutic targets have been under investigation, such as NS3 protease, NS4A replicase and NS5B polymerase. New potential targets, such as NS2 protease, as well as CD-81 and claudin-1 entry co-receptors, have also been identified.
SUMMARY
Clinical evaluations of drug candidates targeting NS3 protease, NS4A cofactor, and NS5B polymerase have demonstrated the potential of developing small molecules that interfere with the replication of the virus. Additional issues, including genotype coverage, resistant mutations, and combination therapy represent major challenges for future drug discovery efforts.
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