Salvatierra K, Fareleski S, Forcada A, López-Labrador FX. Hepatitis C virus resistance to new specifically-targeted antiviral therapy: A public health perspective. World J Virol 2013; 2(1): 6-15 [PMID: 24175225 DOI: 10.5501/wjv.v2.i1.6]
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Dr. F Xavier López-Labrador, Joint Unit in Genomics and Health, Centre for Public Health Research, Public Health Department, Generalitat Valenciana/Institut Cavanilles, University of Valencia, Av. Catalunya 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain. f.xavier.lopez@uv.es
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World J Virol. Feb 12, 2013; 2(1): 6-15 Published online Feb 12, 2013. doi: 10.5501/wjv.v2.i1.6
Hepatitis C virus resistance to new specifically-targeted antiviral therapy: A public health perspective
Karina Salvatierra, Sabrina Fareleski, Alicia Forcada, F Xavier López-Labrador
Karina Salvatierra, Sabrina Fareleski, F Xavier López-Labrador, Joint Unit in Genomics and Health, Centre for Public Health Research, Public Health Department, Generalitat Valenciana/Institut Cavanilles, University of Valencia, 46020 Valencia, Spain
Alicia Forcada, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 46010 Valencia, Spain
F Xavier López-Labrador, CIBER in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBER-ESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 46020 Valencia, Spain
F Xavier López-Labrador, Department of Microbiology, Medical School, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Author contributions: Salvatierra K and Fareleski S contributed equally to this work; all authors wrote the review article.
Supported by The Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Economy, Directorate of Science (PI10/00512 and CIBER-ESP); López-Labrador FX Holds a P.I. Position supported by the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
Correspondence to: Dr. F Xavier López-Labrador, Joint Unit in Genomics and Health, Centre for Public Health Research, Public Health Department, Generalitat Valenciana/Institut Cavanilles, University of Valencia, Av. Catalunya 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain. f.xavier.lopez@uv.es
Telephone: +34-96-1985839 Fax: +34-96-1925703
Received: April 7, 2012 Revised: December 30, 2012 Accepted: January 17, 2013 Published online: February 12, 2013
Abstract
Until very recently, treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been based on the combination of two non-viral specific drugs: pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin, which is effective in, overall, about 40%-50% of cases. To improve the response to treatment, novel drugs have been designed to specifically block viral proteins. Multiple compounds are under development, and the approval for clinical use of the first of such direct-acting antivirals in 2011 (Telaprevir and Boceprevir), represents a milestone in HCV treatment. HCV therapeutics is entering a new expanding era, and a highly-effective cure is envisioned for the first time since the discovery of the virus in 1989. However, any antiviral treatment may be limited by the capacity of the virus to overcome the selective pressure of new drugs, generating antiviral resistance. Here, we try to provide a basic overview of new treatments, HCV resistance to new antivirals and some considerations derived from a Public Health perspective, using HCV resistance to protease and polymerase inhibitors as examples.
