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Pegylated interferon-α plus ribavirin is the current antiviral regimen used for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, some patients (especially those positive for genotype 1 virus) do not respond, and some cannot tolerate this regimen. Several drugs that target enzymes important in the replication of HCV have been disappointing, because the high mutation rate of the virus rapidly leads to drug resistance.
Scientists employed by Bristol-Myers Squibb found a small molecule that targets a protein important in the replication of HCV and that is the most potent inhibitor of HCV yet reported. Administration of the molecule to healthy HCV-negative patients produced no adverse effects. Then the molecule was given in varying doses to HCV-positi…