Abstract

Infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents an important health-care problem worldwide. The prevalence of HCV-related disease is increasing, and no vaccine is yet available. Since the identification of HCV as the causative agent of non-A, non-B hepatitis, treatment has progressed rapidly, but morbidity and mortality rates are still predicted to rise. Novel, more efficacious and tolerable therapies are urgently needed, and a greater understanding of the viral life cycle has led to an increase in the number of possible targets for antiviral intervention. Here we review the specific challenges posed by HCV, and recent developments in the design of vaccines and novel antiviral agents.

Author affiliations

1. Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Medical School of Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
2. Centre for Adult and Paediatric Gastroenterology, Barts, and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, UK.
3. Department of Medicine, University of Bonn, Germany.
4. Department of Medicine, J.W. Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany.
5. INSERM, U871, Université Lyon 1, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Liver Department, Hôtel Dieu Hospital Lyon, France.
6. Epiphany Biosciences Inc., San Francisco, California 94111, USA.

Correspondence to: Michael P. Manns¹ Email: manns.michael@mh-hannover.de

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