Boceprevir. NS3 protease inhibitor, Treatment of chronic hepatitis C

Boceprevir (SCH-503034) is a potent, orally bioavailable inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protease. Several studies hove demonstrated that boceprevir is well tolerated when given in combination with peginterferon and ribavirin. It has shown clinical efficacy (sustained virological response) in naive patients and in nonresponders to the combination peginterferon/ribavirin when combined with these two compounds. As with other targeted antiviral compounds, resistant genetic variants of the virus emerge during boceprevir treatment, and this con be substantially decreased by combination with antivirals with unrelated mechanisms of action. Boceprevir is currently in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of chronic HCV genotype I in combination with peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin in patients who have demonstrated interferon responsiveness but who failed to achieve sustained virological response on prior treatment with any combination of peginterferon alto and ribavirin, and in previously untreated patients. In 2008 the compound received fast track designation from the FDA for the treatment of chronic HCV genotype I virus infection in these resistan patients.