Given the limited efficacy and frequent side effects of interferon-based therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, researchers have explored a variety of targeted oral antiviral agents, including HCV protease and polymerase inhibitors.

Several candidate drugs have demonstrated potent anti-HCV activity in laboratory and clinical trials, but the virus can develop mutations that confer resistance to these agents, especially when used as monotherapy. In addition, some individuals who have never received treatment may harbor HCV strains that are naturally resistant to these antiviral drugs. Full Article....

Several nucleoside/nucleotide analog agents exhibit antiviral activity against both HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV), which presents challenges for the management of HIV-HBV coinfected patients. It is important that these agents not be used as monotherapy, which can lead to both viruses developing drug resistance mutations.

It is well known that lamivudine (3TC; Epivir), emtricitabine (Emtriva), and tenofovir (Viread) are active against both HIV and HBV. Lamivudine has long been standard therapy for HIV and HBV, and the popular anti-HIV drug tenofovir just this month received approval as a treatment for chronic hepatitis B. Full Article...