Statin (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor)-based therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection-related diseases in the era of direct-acting antiviral agents

Bibliographic Information
Authors: Kishta S.S.; Kishta S.A.; El-Shenawy R.
Journal: F1000Research
Publisher: Faculty of 1000 Ltd
Publication Date: 25 January 2017
Volume / Issue: Volume 5
Article No.: 223
ISSN: 20461402
DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.7970.3
Scopus: View on Scopus
Document Type: Article
Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access
Authors and Affiliations
Kishta S.S., Medical Biotechnology Lab, Microbial Biotechnology Department, National Research Center, Egypt, Cairo, Egypt; Kishta S.A., Department of Surgery, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt; El-Shenawy R., Medical Biotechnology Lab, Microbial Biotechnology Department, National Research Center, Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
Abstract
Recent improvements have been made in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs). However, despite successful viral clearance, many patients continue to have HCV-related disease progression. Therefore, new treatments must be developed to achieve viral clearance and prevent the risk of HCV-related diseases. In particular, the use of pitavastatin together with DAAs may improve the antiviral efficacy as well as decrease the progression of liver fibrosis and the incidence of HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma. To investigate the management methods for HCV-related diseases using pitavastatin and DAAs, clinical trials should be undertaken. However, concerns have been raised about potential drug interactions between statins and DAAs. Therefore, pre-clinical trials using a replicon system, human hepatocyte-like cells, human neurons and human cardiomyocytes from human-induced pluripotent stem cells should be conducted. Based on these pre-clinical trials, an optimal direct-acting antiviral agent could be selected for combination with pitavastatin and DAAs. Following the pre-clinical trial, the combination of pitavastatin and the optimal direct-acting antiviral agent should be compared to other combinations of DAAs (e.g., sofosbuvir and velpatasvir) according to the antiviral effect on HCV infection, HCV-related diseases and cost-effectiveness. © 2017 Kishta SS et al.
Keywords
antivirus agent; direct acting antiviral agent; hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor; pitavastatin; unclassified drug; Article; clinical effectiveness; disease course; drug efficacy; drug potentiation; drug response; hepatitis C; Hepatitis C virus; human; infection risk; liver cell; liver cell carcinoma; liver fibrosis; nonhuman; pluripotent stem cell; risk assessment; risk factor; viral clearance; virus identification; virus load
Citation Information
Scopus Citations: 4
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