Prospects for treatment of hepatitis C infection

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection with interferon has been disappo inting, with about 16 % of patients achieving a sustained response. Approxi mately 10 % of patients will fail to complete a full course of treatment ma inly because of side-effects. Treatment with interferon-a and ribavirin lea ds to a sustained response in 38-43 % of patients. Several new agents, such as amantadine, are showing promise. However, treatment response rates are still likely to remain poor and the treatment is very expensive. Infection with the hepatitis C virus is a major public health problem. New affordable drugs are desperately needed to help treat the vast numbers of people infe cted world-wide. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.