Developments in hepatitis C during 1996 - 1997

The prevalence of hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection worldwide is estimated at 500 m people. HCV infection invariably leads to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure. The only available treatment is α-interferon, giving a sustained response in around 20% of patients. Approaches to HCV therapy include inhibition of the viral protease, helicase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase functions, the internal ribosome entry site, and the development of vaccines. Until very recently, there were no reports of a bona fide infectious clone to study HCV replication. This review reports the progress in all of these areas covering the patent literature from 1996 to mid-1997.