Clinical Need and Therapeutic Targets for New HCV Agents

Program Director: Raymond T. Chung, MD

Faculty:

Kenneth E. Sherman, MD, PhD

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Discuss prospective therapeutic targets inherent in the mechanism of hepatitis C virus (HCV) viral replication
• Explain the rationale for and potential utility of novel agents under development for the treatment of HCV
• Describe HCV antiviral resistance that may develop with certain novel therapeutics

Topics covered include:

• Introduction
• Current Standard of HCV Therapy: Peginterferon and Ribavirin
• The HCV Genome and Life Cycle
• Virus Binding and Cell Entry
• HCV RNA Pathway to the ER and IRES Binding to Ribosomes
• HCV Polyprotein Synthesis and Processing
• Assembly of the RNA Replication Complex (Replicase) and the Membranous Web
• Initiation of Negative HCV RNA Synthesis and Synthesis of Positive HCV RNA
• Virus Assembly and Release
• Agents That Elicit a Nonspecific or Innate Immune Response to HCV
• Viral Resistance to Emerging HCV Therapies
• Future Directions
• Summary: Implications for Clinical Practice