By Samitha Nemirajaiah Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is the most commonly occurring chronic blood-borne infection. Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis C virus. More than 170 million people worldwide have HCV, and, in the United States, more than three million people are infected. HCV is the response for the majority of liver transplants. More than 15,000 people die annually in the United States because of HCV. The usual causes of HCV spread are when someone comes in contact with blood or other bodily fluids from an infected person. Drug users who share injection needles are at a high risk of HCV infection. The incubation period is usually from 2 weeks to six months. The following picture depicts the life cycle of HCV. HCV is divided into six different genotypes. A genotype is the strain of the virus, and it plays a vital role in the type of treatment needed. The following picture shows the distribution of HCV genotype. Until 2013, there were treatment regimens for HCV but no cure. Gilead Sciences came up with a new treatment called Sovaldi that essentially cured HCV. A cure for a viral infection is described as a sustained virological response (SVR) for 12 weeks, or in other words, patients’ blood tests will show no detectable virus after three months. Sovaldi was the first treatment to cure HCV, and it is the first once-daily oral tablet targeted specifically genotype 1 HCV. Sovaldi is a “Direct-acting pyrimidine nucleotide analog representing the first NS5B HCV polymerase inhibitor”. Sovaldi is active against all genotypes. The active ingredient in Sovaldi is sofosbuvir. During clinical trials, Sovaldi showed a rapid decrease in viral loads and excellent safety and tolerability profile. When a person is infected with HCV, the virus multiplies in the body, causing liver damage. If not treated, it leads to cirrhosis and, ultimately, liver failure or requiring a liver transplant. The job of an antiviral is to block the ability of the virus to multiply. Sovaldi is a DAA (Direct-Acting Antiviral). NS5B (NonStructural protein 5B) is a viral protein found in the HCV. The HCV requires NS5B to grow/multiply. Sovaldi targets NS5B and blocks the HCV’s ability to grow and multiply, reducing the body’s virus load. With a combination of other drugs, Sovaldi eliminates the virus from the body. Multiple randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials demonstrated excellent SVR (sustained virological response) clearance. Sovaldi was effective across all genotypes. The response rates were greater than 90% in treatment-naive patients. Sovaldi is considered one of the biggest blockbuster drugs in the history of the Pharma industry. Since initial approval, Sovaldi (Subsequently Harvoni) has raked in almost 70 billion in total sales. The drug was very successful and helped a lot of patients. References:
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
ABOUTSubmit your work to be considered for publication in the Newly Created SNHS Newspaper! CategoriesOuter Space History Biology
|