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Current and Future Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 2 and 3

  • Hepatitis C: Therapeutics (MP Manns and T von Hahn, Section editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Hepatitis C genotype 2 and 3 accounts for a significant number of HCV infected patients around the world. The combination of peginterferon alpha and ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV) demonstrated favourable results in treatment of genotype 2 and 3 infected patients with sustained virological responses rates of up to 80 %. In 2011, the first direct acting antivirals (DAA) have been approved but so far only for genotype 1. Several other antivirals are currently tested in clinical trials. Two compounds demonstrated promising results in patients with genotype 2 and 3. Sofosbuvir (SOF), a NS5B polymerase inhibitor, proved to be effective even without PEG-IFN and approval of an interferon-free regimen is foreseeable. Alisporivir (ALV), a host-targeting antiviral demonstrated encouraging results in phase-I and -II trials in genotype 2 and 3 patients and offers a new mechanism of action. However, further trials are needed to prove long-term safety and the efficacy in difficult-to-treat patients.

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Conflict of Interest

Christoph Hoener zu Siederdissen receives honoraria from Merck Sharp & Dohme. Markus Cornberg is a paid board member, paid consultant, and receives honoraria from Gilead, Roche, Merck/MSD, and Novartis. His institution receives funding through grants from Gilead, Roche, and Merck/MSD. He also receives payment for the development of educational presentations from Gilead, Roche, and Merck/MSD, and he receives reimbursement for travel/accommodations expenses from Roche and Merck/MSD.

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  1. Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str.1, 30625, Hannover, Germany

    Christoph Hoener zu Siederdissen & Markus Cornberg

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Correspondence to Markus Cornberg.

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Hoener zu Siederdissen, C., Cornberg, M. Current and Future Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 2 and 3. Curr Hepatitis Rep 12, 261–268 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-013-0191-5

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