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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 21, 2012; 18(43): 6183-6188
Published online Nov 21, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i43.6183
Telaprevir/boceprevir era: From bench to bed and back
Qiuwei Pan, Maikel P Peppelenbosch, Harry LA Janssen, Robert J de Knegt
Qiuwei Pan, Maikel P Peppelenbosch, Harry LA Janssen, Robert J de Knegt, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, 3015 CE Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Author contributions: Pan Q contributed to conception, design, drafting the article and acquisition, interpretation of the data; Peppelenbosch MP, Janssen HLA and de Knegt RJ contributed to interpretation of data and editing the article; all the authors revised and approval of the version to be published.
Supported by Foundation for Liver and Gastrointestinal Research (SLO); and The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), No. VENI-grant 916-13-032 (to Pan Q)
Correspondence to: Qiuwei Pan, PhD, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Room L-462, ’s Gravendijkwal 230, 3015 CE Rotterdam, The Netherlands. q.pan@erasmusmc.nl
Telephone: +31-10-7034545 Fax: +31-10-7032793
Received: August 6, 2012
Revised: September 25, 2012
Accepted: September 28, 2012
Published online: November 21, 2012
Processing time: 133 Days and 14.5 Hours
Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects approximately 200 million people worldwide. Interferon-based therapies have dominated over the past two decades. However, the overall response rates remain suboptimal. Thanks to the tremendous effort from both academia and industry, two serine protease inhibitors telaprevir and boceprevir for treating chronic hepatitis C have finally reached the clinic. Although these compounds are only approved for combination use with interferon and ribavirin in genotype 1 HCV infected chronic patients, the management of HCV patients however is now evolving incredibly. Here, we overviewed a series of landmark studies, regarding the clinical development of telaprevir and boceprevir. We discussed the mechanism-of-action of telaprevir/boceprevir and their potential application in HCV-positive liver transplantation patients. We further emphasized some emerging concerns with perspective of further development in this field.

Keywords: Telaprevir; Boceprevir; Mechanism-of-action; Clinical efficacy; Liver transplantation patient; Interferon; Ribavirin