Optimal treatment with telaprevir for chronic HCV infection

Telaprevir is a recently approved direct-acting antiviral against hepatitis C virus (HCV) that works through inhibition of the NS3/4A serine protease inhibitor.Phase 2b and 3 studies have shown marked increase in sustained virological response rates in both treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced patients with HCV genotype 1 treated with a telaprevir-containing regimen compared with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin alone. The most commonly observed side effects of telaprevir therapy are anaemia to a greater degree than that observed with PEG-IFN/ribavirin alone; eczematous rash, which can be severe in a minority of patients; and anorectal discomfort.