Stanford scientists identify a new class of hep C drugs

A Stanford team has identified a key protein that could herald a new class of hepatitis C drugs. And the lead author of the study says that a new therapy could be in the clinic in as a little as 18 months.

Their work hinges on the breakthrough identification of a key protein that the hepatitis C virus needs to spread. The scientists then identified small molecules that blocked the protein, potentially shutting down the virus' ability to replicate.

"Hepatitis C creates a novice structure in the infected cell where it replicates and it looks like this class of compounds interferes with the virus's ability to establish that structure," senior author Dr. Jeffrey Glenn of Stanford University tells Reuters. "The compounds we discovered represent a new class of potential drugs that appear to specifically attack the virus's ability to set up shop in the liver cells."

The ultimate goal of much of the work being done on hepatitis C involves the development of a cocktail of drugs that can effectively and safely shut the virus down, much like an HIV cocktail therapy works. "Hepatitis C virus, or HCV, is a huge problem," says Glenn. "It infects over 150 million people worldwide, many of whom don't even know they have it. Chronic hepatitis C infection is the No. 1 cause of liver cancer and liver transplantation in the United States."

- here's the Stanford report
- check out the Reuters story

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