부산대학교 도서관

This chapter describes the approaches used to treat chronic hepatitis arising from infection with hepatitis B and C viruses. For hepatitis B, interferon-based therapy is first discussed, including the classification and biological properties of interferons (IFN), and the rationale for the development of pegylated IFN derivatives. The alternative approach, based on inhibition of the reverse transcriptase function of HBV polymerase by nucleos(t)ide analogues is then described, including details of lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir, and tenofovir usage. For chronic hepatitis C, the use of standard and pegylated interferons, both alone and in combination with ribavirin, is described. The development of directly acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection is discussed, with details on the main classes of DAAs, NS3 protease inhibitors, NS5a multifunctional protein inhibitors, and NS5b polymerase inhibitors. Other possible targets of DAAs are listed, and the novel concept of host-targeted antiviral therapy is explained.