Boceprevir

1 . Burton MJ, Passarella MJ, McGuire BM.Telaprevir and boceprevir in african americans with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C: implications for patients and providers.South Med J. 2012 Aug;105(8):431-6.
Abstract
ABSTRACT: Telaprevir and boceprevir have received US Food and Drug Administration approval for use as triple therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Clinical trials of these agents included few African Americans, despite the overwhelming need for improved therapies in this racial group. Although African Americans are predicted to have improved response rates with this new treatment paradigm, clinical trials illustrate lower rates of sustained virologic response for this racial group versus whites. African Americans with genotype 1 HCV infection appear to require longer durations of therapy than do whites to achieve a sustained virologic response. Further investigation is required to adequately counsel African Americans with genotype 1 chronic HCV infection on the efficacy of telaprevir and boceprevir in their racial group. Increased participation of this racial group in HCV clinical trials is needed to improve therapies in this difficult-to-treat population.

2 . Berenguer M, López-Labrador FX.New developments in the management of hepatitis C virus infection: focus on boceprevir.Biologics. 2012;6:249-56. Epub 2012 Aug 3.
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is an important public health problem, and the standard treatment (combination of pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin) has an effectiveness rate of only 40%-50%. Novel virus-specific drugs have recently been designed, and multiple compounds are under development. The approval for the clinical use of direct-acting antivirals in 2011 (boceprevir [BOC] and telaprevir, viral NS3 protease inhibitors) has increased recovery rates by up to 70%. Therefore, a highly effective treatment has been envisioned for the first time. This paper focuses on BOC and the implementation of new BOC-based treatment regimes.

3 . Coilly A, Furlan V, Roche B, Barau C, No?l C, Bonhomme-Faivre L, Antonini TM, Roque-Afonso AM, Samuel D, Taburet AM, Duclos-Vallée JC.PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT OF BOCEPREVIR AND IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE THERAPY IN LIVER TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS WITH HEPATITIS C VIRUS RECURRENCE.Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2012 Aug 20.
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence is the most important complication in HCV liver transplant patients. Boceprevir with pegylated interferon and ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV) enabled improvement in sustained virological response rates of genotype 1 patients. Boceprevir interacts with immunosuppressive therapy (IT) by inhibiting the cytochrome P450 3A enzyme. Our aim was to study interactions and assess the safety of boceprevir in the context of HCV recurrence. Boceprevir (800 mg three times a day) initiated after a 4-week lead-in phase was associated with cyclosporine (3), tacrolimus (2) and everolimus (1) in five genotype 1 liver transplant patients who experienced HCV recurrence. The mean follow-up period since HCV therapy was 14.8±3.1 weeks. Estimated oral clearances of IT decreased on average by 50%, requiring reduced dosing regimens. Anaemia occurred in all patients, with a mean fall in haemoglobin levels between baseline and week 12 of 3.12±2.27g/dL. All patients required administration of β-erythropoietin (n=5), three needed ribavirin dose reduction and one a blood transfusion. A virological response was observed in all patients (mean HVL decrease at week 12: 6.64±0.35 log(10)IU/mL). These preliminary results in liver transplant patients with HCV recurrence demonstrate the feasibility and safety of coadministration of boceprevir and IT.

4 . Njoroge FG, Chen KX, Shih NY, Piwinski JJ (January 2008). Challenges in modern drug discovery: a case study of boceprevir, an HCV protease inhibitor for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection. Acc. Chem. Res. 41 (1): 50–9.
Abstract
More than 170 million people worldwide are affected by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The disease has been described as a "silent epidemic" and "a serious global health crisis". HCV infection is a leading cause of chronic liver disease such as cirrhosis, carcinoma, or liver failure. The current pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination therapy is effective in only 50% of patients. Its moderate efficacy and apparent side effects underscore the need for safer and more effective treatments. The nonstructural NS3 protease of the virus plays a vital role in the replication of the HCV virus. The development of small molecule inhibitors of NS3 protease as antiviral agents has been intensively pu...

5 . Degertekin B, Lok AS (May 2008). Update on viral hepatitis: 2007. Curr. Opin. Gastroenterol. 24 (3): 306–11.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This is a concise review of recent developments in the field of viral hepatitis, based on publications between December 2006 and November 2007.RECENT FINDINGS: Hepatitis A vaccine has similar efficacy to immune globulin as postexposure prophylaxis. Entecavir is a potent antiviral agent with a low rate of drug resistance in nucleoside-na?ve chronic hepatitis B patients but it is not as effective in lamivudine-refractory patients. A combination of adefovir and lamivudine is preferred to adefovir monotherapy for lamivudine-refractory hepatitis B patients. Two orally administered hepatitis C protease inhibitors, telaprevir and boceprevir, were shown to have antiviral activity ...