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
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