Sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) for the treatment of hepatitis C

Hepatitis C (HCV) remains an important cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Historically, treatment included pegylated-interferon and ribavirin with low efficacy and numerous side effects contributing to poor adherence and impairment of patients' well-being. The next step in developing better treatment regimens for HCV led to the development of the first-generation direct acting antivirals (DAAs). Although these DAAs improved efficacy, they also added substantial side effects. The next generation of DAAs include Simeprevir and Sofosbuvir (SOF) which not only further enhanced the efficacy of the regimens but also improve their safety profile. This review summarizes the current clinical experience with SOF. SOF, an HCV-specific uridine nucleotide analog which inhibits the NS5B polymerase, is now available in the USA, Canada and Europe. Clinical trials of SOF-containing regimens have shown that these regimens are safe, efficacious, and well-tolerated in all genotypes. Additionally, SOF is associated with improved patient reported outcomes.