What drugs are used for hepatitis C?
Until 2014, hepatitis C was treated mainly with interferon and drugs that inhibit the multiplication of the virus. In most cases, interferon-α was administered in combination with ribavirin. Since 2015, new drugs that directly attack the virus have been approved.
NS5-A inhibitors (Ledipasvir, Daclatasvir, Ombitasvir), NS5-B inhibitors (Sofosbuvir, Dasabuvir), NS3A/NS4A inhibitors (Simeprevir, Paritravir) and combinations of NS5A/5B inhibitors or so-called multi-inhibitors against NS3, NS5A/NS4A, NS3A are drugs that attack the hepatitis C virus directly. These drugs ensure that the hepatitis virus can no longer produce the proteins it needs. As a result, the virus can no longer multiply.
In some cases ribavirin tablets must be given additionally. Ribavirin is a drug that also counteracts the multiplication of the hepatitis C virus. The new drugs against hepatitis C have good prospects of success and fewer side effects than interferon therapy. The choice of drug depends, among other things, on the type of infection, acute or chronic, on pre-treatment and on liver and kidney function. The choice is between standard therapeutic agents, such as interferon-α and ribavirin, or newer, directly antiviral drugs, such as hepatitis C virus protease inhibitors ending in -previr, hepatitis C virus polymerase inhibitors ending in -buvir and hepatitis C virus NS5A inhibitors ending in -asvir.
Interferon
Interferon is a cytokine, i.e. a protein naturally occurring in the human body, which serves to control the immune response. Our body cells produce interferon in viral and neoplastic infections. diseases.
Different cell types produce three different types of interferon. Interferons can also be produced genetically and used for the therapy of various diseases. Before 2011, interferon in combination with the drug ribavirin was the standard therapy for hepatitis C. Interferon-α was used for the therapy.
The duration of treatment with interferon and ribavirin was 24 to 48 weeks, depending on the genotype of the hepatitis C virus. This therapy led to a healing of the disease in 80% of the patients, so that no more components of the hepatitis C virus could be detected. A major disadvantage of therapy with interferon was the frequency of side effects.
More than half of those treated described flu-like symptoms. Therapy with interferon often causes side effects. Among the very common side effects are flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, exhaustion, muscle pain, joint pain, headache, nausea, diarrhea and increased sweating.
A lack of white blood cells and blood calcium can occur. Often there is also anaemia, a lack of platelets, cardiac arrhythmia, blue discoloration of the skin, dry mouth and impaired taste, weight loss and water retention in the tissue (edema). Occasionally a mineral deficiency develops and depression, anxiety, confusion, nervousness, memory and sleep disorders may occur.
Visual disturbances, dizziness, high blood pressure, psoriasis, itching and an increased excretion of protein and cells via the urine as well as an increase in liver values in the blood can occur. Side effects such as pneumonia, herpes infection, autoimmune diseases, thyroid dysfunction, temporary erectile dysfunction, inflammation of the liver, heart attack and other serious diseases rarely occur. Genetically engineered interferon has an antiviral effect in hepatitis C virus infection, as the active ingredient makes the body’s own cells more resistant to a virus infection and activates special scavenger cells of the immune system in such a way that the viruses can be eliminated and virus-infected cells destroyed. In combination with ribavirin, the therapy led to a cure in about 80% of infected patients by 2011.