Interferon-Free Treatment Regimens for Hepatitis C: Are We There Yet?

HCV replication cycle, the potential drug targets and a list of DAAs in phase II/III clinical trials (data available at: www.clinicaltrials.gov). The steps of HCV replication cycle include cell binding and entry into the hepatocyte, followed by uncoating of HCV and transfer of HCV RNA into endoplasmic reticulum where polyprotein translation and protein processing occurs. This is followed by viral transcription, assembly and export. (Adapted from Lindenbach and Rice⁴ and Schlutter⁵). IRES, internal ribosome entry site; LDL, low density lipoprotein; NKT, natural killer T-cell; NS, nonstructural; VLDL, very low density lipoprotein.