Clinical Newswire Oct. 28, 2003 (BOSTON, MA) - Protease inhibitors (PIs) have dramatically reduced morbidity and mortality associated with HIV infection. Now PIs have been shown to hold promise for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) as demonstrated by potent in vitro activity of an investigational agent, SCH6. The results of experiments showing inhibition of HCV viral replication were presented at the 54th annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, held in Boston, Massachusetts. Francesco Negro, MD of the University Hospital in Geneva, Switzerland presented the study's findings.
A series of in vitro experiments were carried out to evaluate the antiviral activity of SCH6 in the Huh-7 hepatoma cell line infected with HCV. Following a 72-hour period of exposure to varying concentrations of SCH6, the effect of the novel PI on HCV was determined by measuring viral transcription using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and in situ hybridization. HCV protein expression was measured with immunoblot and immunofluorescence.
The study showed that SCH6 was a potent inhibitor of HCV replication and protein expression, with greatest activity at concentrations of 100 nM. In vivo studies will be needed to determine whether these levels can be achieved and maintained in patients, but these promising initial results represent a potential advancement in HCV treatment.
As with HIV, antiviral resistance is a substantial barrier to treatment and the availability of a new class of drugs may lead to combination therapies that are more effective. "Hepatitis C protease inhibitors have the potential to have the same impact on HCV therapy that HIV protease inhibitors have had," Dr. Negro said.
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