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Protease Inhibitors-- Hepatitis C virus
uses a molecule called "protease" to reproduce. (Other viruses use proteases
to survive, including HIV; although the molecules have similar names, they
are quite different, and drugs that inhibit the HIV protease do not work
against the hepatitis C protease). Researchers are currently developing
several different types of drugs that block the hepatitis C protease.
Although protease inhibitors are not yet clinically available, they
represent the most promising drugs for targeting HCV. A proof of the concept
that these drugs work was recently reported in the journal Nature where a
single dose of a protease inhibitor led to a dramatic reduction of the virus
within 2 days.
2008
2007-2004
VX950
Protease Inhibitor
Telaprevir
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