Direct antiviral agents (DAAs) - A new age in the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a global health problem, because infection frequently leads to chronic hepatitis C eventually progressing to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Improved insights into the HCV replication cycle and the role of HCV non-structural proteins have recently enabled to identify drugs directly acting on specific HCV target structures. Agents from three drug classes have been developed and approved by the health authorities. Combinations of two or more drugs from different classes achieve high (> 90%) HCV clearance rates and are well tolerated. This interferon-free DAA (direct antiviral agent) therapy has revolutionized antiviral therapy in hepatitis C so that successful hepatitis C treatment can be offered to virtually all patients irrespective of their co-morbidity. This review provides an overview over currently approved regimens and outlines their use in clinical practice. In addition potential short-comings of the current therapeutic options such as drug-drug interactions and selection of viral resistance are addressed. DAA combination therapy has the potential to obtain global control over hepatitis C. However, easy access to DAAs, availability of reliable HCV diagnostics, and affordable costs remain still important goals, which must be reached to globally eliminate hepatitis C.