Drug Design, Development and Therapy (Jul 2019)
Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: design, development, and place in therapy
Abstract
Thomas G Cotter,1 Donald M Jensen21Center for Liver Diseases, The University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; 2Section of Hepatology, RUSH University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USAAbstract: Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy has changed the landscape of hepatitis C virus (HCV) management and has changed the focus to the possibility of HCV elimination in the near future. Glecaprevir, an NS3/4A protease inhibitor, and pibrentasvir, an HCV NS5A inhibitor, have addressed many of the existing shortcomings in the DAA therapy spectrum. This combination has proven to be a highly efficacious pan-genotypic DAA with a high barrier to resistance as a once-daily, all-oral medication. This review explores the design and development of glecaprevir and pibrentasvir, its place in current HCV management in the midst of a myriad of DAA therapy options, and also remaining challenges.Keywords: glecaprevir, pibrentasvir, direct-acting antiviral therapy, hepatitis C virus
