1989: Discovery of hepatitis C virus
1991: First approved hepatitis C drug treatment, interferon alpha-2b
1992: Routine HCV screening of donor blood in the U.S.
1998: U.S. CDC issues recommendations for hepatitis C screening
2007: U.S. hepatitis C deaths surpass HIV
2010: FDA approves first rapid blood test for HCV
2011: Obama declares July 28 as World Hepatitis Day. First generation of antiviral drugs, protease inhibitors, come to the fore.
2012: CDC recommends screening for hepatitis C in the “baby boom” birth cohort
2013: FDA approves new antiviral drug. Patients may benefit from all-oral regimens or in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.
The hepatitis C therapeutic area will be one of the top 10 therapeutic areas in 2015, with a market size of $21.28 billion, behind only type 2 diabetes, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis and HIV. The patent for the hepatitis C drug interferon has expired, and the use of interferon in Asia is based more on economic reasons than medical considerations, given that side effects and other issues have eliminated interferon for hepatitis C in developed countries such as Western Europe.
Starting in 2013, hepatitis C treatment has changed dramatically.
2013.
Olysio (simeprevir) 750 mg (three times a day) + interferon A + ribavirin
For genotype 1, untreated, relapsed or cirrhotic;
Significantly shorter duration of treatment (12-24 weeks);
2013.
Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) 400 mg (once daily)
Genotype 1 or 3, untreated, relapsed or cirrhotic;
Significantly shorter treatment duration (12-24 weeks);
2014.
Harvoni (sofosbuvir + ledipasvir) (once daily)
Significant reduction in treatment time (only 8 weeks);
90% cure rate.
2014.
Olysio+ Sovaldi (once-daily)
Significant reduction in treatment time (only 8 weeks);
90% cure rate.
More detailed antiviral regimens for different genotypes emerged in 2015, and generic versions are becoming available, giving patients more options.