Effect of early antiviral agent therapy (NS3 and NS5A inhibitors) in chronic hepatitis C null responders

Abstract

To further improve therapeutic effect on chronic hepatitis C, we have administered NS3 inhibitor and NS5A inhibitor together, and examined effects of early antiviral agent therapy. The subjects were five cases where interferon is ineffective (null responders). The NS5A and NS3 inhibitors are oral drugs and were daily administered for 24 weeks. Figure 1 shows time-dependent change of the number of viruses after the therapy started, and rapid decrease of viruses is recognized. Within 12 hours, HCV-RNA decreased by more than 2 log IU/ml in every patient. Two patients became negative for the virus by the 15th day after the therapy started. Furthermore, 80% of cases by the 28th day and all the cases by the 56th day became negative. The new therapy has manifested excellent early antiviral effect.