Loading...
Current direct-acting antivirals cure hepatitis C virus (HCV) by targeting viral proteins. An alternative strategy is to block cellular cofactors that are essential for HCV replication. A liver-specific microRNA (mi-RNA) called miRNA-122 binds to the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of HCV and promotes its stability and replication. RG-101 is an investigational oligonucleotide inhibitor of miRNA-122 that is linked to N-acetylgalactosamine, thereby enhancing uptake by hepatocytes and increasing its potency compared with nonconjugated oligonucleotide. Now, researchers report promising results from an industry-supported phase 1b trial of RG-101.
The investigators randomized two cohorts of patients with HCV infection to receive one subcutaneous inje…