Daclatasvir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C

Abstract

Introduction: Following more than 20 years of Interferon (IFN)-based treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV), the understanding of viral life cycle led to the development of new antiviral drugs directly targeting HCV replication steps. Daclatasvir (DCV) is a potent inhibitor of non-structural NS5A HCV protein with pangenotypic activity and low-moderate barrier to resistance suitable for IFN-free combination with other direct acting antivirals (DAAs).

Areas covered: The present review summarizes DCV key pharmacokinetic features and results from Phase II and III trials, discussing also NS5A resistance. Main literature articles have been identified through Pubmed and Medline search; moreover, abstracts from recent international meetings on liver disease have been scrutinized.

Expert opinion: DCV in combination with other DAAs has provided IFN-free regimens with increased efficacy and tolerability. However, suboptimal barrier to resistance and the rapid development of new second-generation NS5A inhibitors will probably make DCV a relatively short-lived drug.

Keywords:

• direct acting antivirals
• hepatitis C
• daclatasvir
• NS5A

Declaration of interest

M Colombo has received grant and research support from Bristol-Meyers Squibb and Gilead Science. He is on the advisory committees of Merck, Roche, Novartis, Bayer, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Gilead Science, Tibotec, Vertex, Janssen Cilag, Achillion, Lundbeck, GlaxoSmithKline, GenSpera, AbbVie, AlfaWasserman and Jennerex. He has also acted as a speaker/ teacher for Tibotec, Roche, Novartis, Bayer, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Gilead Science, Vertex, Merck, Janssen, Sanofi, AbbVie. A Aghemo has received research support for Gilead Sciences, is on the advisory committees for Gilead Sciences, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation, Jannsen, Abbvie and Bristol-Meyers Squibb and is on the speakers bureau for Gilead Sciences, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation, Jannsen, Abbvie and Bristol-Meyers Squibb. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Box 1. Drug summary