Preliminary Study of Two Antiviral Agents for Hepatitis C Genotype 1

In 21 patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection who had had no response to prior treatment, sustained virologic responses were achieved in 4 of 11 who were treated with two antiviral agents alone and in 9 of 10 who were treated with the antiviral agents plus peginterferon and ribavirin. Approximately 180 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), including 4.1 million in the United States. 1 , 2 HCV infection is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the United States and a leading cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma globally. 3 , 4 HCV is classified into six major genotypes; genotype 1 is predominant in the United States and is the most difficult to treat. 5 , 6 Treatment of HCV genotype 1 infection with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for 48 weeks results in 24-week sustained virologic response (undetectable HCV RNA 24 weeks after the end of therapy) in . . .