| 20100028922 | IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HCV REPLICON VARIANTS WITH REDUCED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO BENZOFURANS, AND METHODS RELATED THERETO - The present invention provides methods of decreasing the frequency of emergence, decreasing the level of resistance, and delaying the emergence of a treatment-resistant Hepatitis C viral infection, by administering to a subject, either in combination or in series, an inhibitor of the Hepatitis C RNA-dependent RNA polymerase NS5B, e.g., a benzofuran, such as 5-cyclopropyl-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-[(2-hydroxyethyl)(methylsulfonyl)amino]-N-methyl-1-benzofuran-3-carboxamide (HCV-796), and at least one additional anti-Hepatitis C agent, e.g., a ribavirin product or an immunomodulator, such as an interferon product. Additionally, the invention relates to methods of monitoring the course of treatment of a Hepatitis C viral infection, methods of monitoring and prognosing a Hepatitis C viral infection, and methods of identifying an individual with a decreased likelihood of responding to an anti-Hepatitis C viral therapy. These methods use the sequence and/or structure of the Hepatitis C RNA-dependent RNA polymerase NS5B to identify the emergence of a treatment-resistant Hepatitis C viral infection, particularly a benzofuran (e.g., HCV-796) treatment-resistant Hepatitis C viral infection. | 02-04-2010 |
