DAA's( oral antiviral's)

They say that treatment without interferon using oral "cocktails" being FDA approved will take at least 5 years. I am intolerant to interferon and have already gone through a transplant. I am fighting to get early access but I sure would like to have the inside scoop as to why the big hold up.Of course I know its all about the $, but I'd like to be a little more informed.so as to know what I am up against. thanks...

[spectda]

Hi-
As you heard in your other thread, telaprevir and possibly boceprevir may be released in 2011. Telaprevir and boceprevir studies have shown that they have to be  administered with riba and interferon to successfully treat HCV. These drugs are the first generation of direct acting antivirals for hcv.

The cocktails or combinations of antiviral drugs that you mentioned are still in development. There are some studies combing two antiviral agents currently, but they are still most likely a few years away from approval.

Scientists believe that the combination of three antivirals will most likely be the answer to replacing the current treatment and the chance of success should really increase dramatically when they are fully developed and released. They have taken their clue from HIV which requires "cocktails" to handle resistance to just one or two drugs.

Take Care - Dave