HCV Protease Inhibitors

Information about HCV Protease Inhibitors

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Structural representation of the HCV protease.

Class identifiers
Pronunciation
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Use	Treatment of Hepatitis C
ATC code
Mode of action
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Narlaprevir

HCV Protease Inhibitors are antiviral agents specifically designed to combat the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). These inhibitors function by obstructing the activity of the viral protease, a crucial enzyme for the post-translational modification of the HCV polypeptide. This polypeptide undergoes cleavage into multiple structural and nonstructural regions. The protease inhibitors mimic specific amino acid sequences that the viral serine protease cleaves, thereby acting as competitive inhibitors.

Mechanism of Action

HCV Protease Inhibitors primarily target and block the activity of the HCV-encoded protease. This enzyme plays an indispensable role in the post-translational modification process, cleaving the viral polypeptide into various structural and nonstructural regions. The inhibitors resemble the specific amino acid sequence that the protease would typically cleave, thereby effectively inhibiting its activity.

US FDA Approval

Several HCV Protease Inhibitors, distinguished by their '-previr' suffix, have secured approval from the US FDA:

• Boceprevir – 2012
• Telaprevir – 2012
• Simeprevir – 2013
• Paritaprevir – 2014
• Grazoprevir – 2015

Furthermore, numerous other inhibitors are progressing through different phases of preclinical and clinical evaluation.

Adverse Effects

While HCV Protease Inhibitors are predominantly well-received by patients, some common side effects have been documented:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal discomfort
• Rash

Liver Safety Concerns

Although many HCV Protease Inhibitors are generally deemed safe, there have been instances of liver injury associated with certain drugs. Asunaprevir, in particular, has been implicated in cases of acute hepatitis characterized by immunoallergic features. These events sometimes manifest as part of a broader hypersensitivity reaction. The onset of injury typically appears between 4 to 12 weeks post-administration, often accompanied by symptoms like fever, rash, and eosinophilia. Although the jaundice is usually mild to moderate, at least one fatal incident involving liver injury has been reported in association with asunaprevir. While this drug is often co-administered with daclatasvir and occasionally ribavirin, most evidence points to asunaprevir as the primary agent responsible for the observed liver injuries.

List of HCV Protease Inhibitors

• Asunaprevir
• Boceprevir
• Glecaprevir
• Grazoprevir – Branded as Zepatier
• Paritaprevir – Marketed under Technive and Viekira Pak
• Simeprevir
• Telaprevir

External Links

• FDA Drug Information
• National Center for Biotechnology Information (PubMed)

HCV Protease Inhibitors Resources
Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials	Wikipedia

Antiviral agents

Drugs for HIV Infection, in the Subclass Antiretroviral Agents

• Fusion Inhibitors (HIV)
  • Enfuvirtide, Maraviroc

• Integrase Inhibitors (HIV)
  • Dolutegravir, Elvitegravir, Raltegravir

• Monoclonal Antibodies
  • Ibalizumab

• Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (HIV)
  • Delavirdine, Efavirenz, Etravirine, Nevirapine, Rilpivirine

• Nucleoside Analogues (HIV)
  • Abacavir, Didanosine, Emtricitabine, Lamivudine, Stavudine, Tenofovir, Zidovudine

• Protease Inhibitors (HIV)
  • Amprenavir, Atazanavir, Darunavir, Fosamprenavir, Indinavir, Lopinavir, Nelfinavir,Ritonavir, Saquinavir, Tipranavir

Drugs for Hepatitis B

• • Alpha Interferon, Adefovir, Emtricitabine, Entecavir, Lamivudine, Telbivudine, Tenofovir

Drugs for Hepatitis C

• Interferon Based Therapies
  • Alpha Interferon and Peginterferon, Ribavirin

HCV NS5A Inhibitors

• Daclatasvir, Elbasvir, Ledipasvir, Ombitasvir, Pibrentasvir, Velpatasvir

HCV NS5B (Polymerase) Inhibitors

• Dasabuvir, Sofosbuvir

HCV Protease Inhibitors

• Asunaprevir, Boceprevir, Glecaprevir, Grazoprevir, Paritaprevir, Simeprevir, Telaprevir, Voxilaprevir

Combination Therapies

• Epclusa, Harvoni, Mavyret, Technive, Viekira Pak, Vosevi, Zepatier

Drugs for Herpes Virus Infections (HSV, CMV, others)

• Acyclovir, Cidofovir, Famciclovir, Foscarnet, Ganciclovir, Valacyclovir, Valganciclovir

Drugs for Influenza

• Amantadine, Oseltamivir, Peramivir, Rimantadine, Zanamivir

The following are drugs for Hepatitis C:

Interferon Based Therapies

• Alpha Interferon and Peginterferon, Ribavirin

HCV NS5A Inhibitors

• Daclatasvir, Elbasvir, Ledipasvir, Ombitasvir, Pibrentasvir, Velpatasvir

HCV NS5B (Polymerase) Inhibitors

• Dasabuvir, Sofosbuvir

HCV Protease Inhibitors

• Asunaprevir, Boceprevir, Glecaprevir, Grazoprevir, Paritaprevir, Simeprevir, Telaprevir, Voxilaprevir

Combination Therapies

• Epclusa, Harvoni, Mavyret, Technive, Viekira Pak, Vosevi, Zepatier