Table 4.3 (pg. 75): NOTE: For more information, seehttp://hcvdrugs.comand the manufacturers' web sites presented at the end of the chapter. • Peregrine Pharmaceuticals: http://www.peregrineinc.com
PREFACE: Affecting around 200 million people worldwide, chronic Hepatitis C is the leading cause of cirrhosis & liver cancer and the first reason for liver transplants. The current standard therapy for chronic HCV infection – combined pegylated interferon and ribavirin – is successful in only 50% of the cases and is associated with frequent and sometimes serious side effects. Fortunately, there is huge potential to increase the number of successfully treated patients if we take into account pre-treatment and on-treatment host and virus characteristics that may lead to therapy failure. This Guide will discuss the available strategies for those who interrupt, fail or relapse after treatment, in particular • the benefits and risks of current therapeutic options • the categories of patients with therapeutic failure that should be re-treated • the appropriate measures for therapy monitoring and outcomes assessment As a growing number of non-responders and relapsers are seen in clinical practice there is a permanent search for new antiviral, anticellular and immunomodulator drugs. Year 2011 has brought the approval of the first generation of viral protease inhibitors that will offer higher cure rates for non-responders and open the door for the eventual testing of interferon-free regimens. The Editors, June 2011