Emerging Options for Treating Hepatitis C Infection

Hepatitis C infection can cause chronic liver disease and liver carcinoma and can necessitate liver transplantation. Of the more than 3 million people infected with hepatitis C, more than two‐thirds were born between 1945 and 1965. Many individuals are unaware that they're infected, which can delay treatment and lead to disease progression. Once infection is diagnosed, typical treatment regimens can involve multiple medications and side effects that can make it challenging for some people to complete therapy. In October 2014 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Harvoni®, a fixed dose combination pill of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir that provides a new option for treatment.