Breakthroughs in Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C - Time for an Obituary for Peginterferon/Ribavirin?

Peter Ferenci

Abstract

Within 2 years after licensing peginterferon/ribavirin and first generation protease inhibitors (telaprevir, boceprevir) for treatment of chronic hepatitis C the speed of development of new treatments has substantially increased. Combinations of various direct acting antivirals (DAA) like protease inhibitors (simeprevir, faldaprevir, ABT-450), HCV NS5A inhibitors (ie. daclatasvir, ledipasvir, ABT-267) and HCV RNA polymerase inhibitors (sofosbuvir, ABT-333) are highly effective and can cure hepatitis C without major side effects within 12 weeks. Once these combinations are approved by FDA and EMA they are likely to provide an interferon/ribavirin free treatment.