Vaniprevir: HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor treatment of hepatitis C

Hammond, E., Lucas, A., Lucas, M., Phillips, E. and Gaudieri, S. (2010) Vaniprevir: HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor treatment of hepatitis C. Drugs of the Future, 35 (10). pp. 803-813.

Abstract

Protease inhibitors are among a number of new classes of direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C which, when combined with conventional peginterferon alfa/ribavirin or with other classes of direct-acting antivirals, offer the potential to vastly improve disease outcomes for affected individuals. Early evaluations imply that a number of these agents are well tolerated and produce encouraging rapid declines in plasma viral load. Concerns relate to the rapid development of drug resistance, with resulting viral rebound. Vaniprevir (MK-7009) is a novel inhibitor of genotype 1 proteases with some potency against genotype 2 currently undergoing phase II trials.