Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronically infects about 2% of the world's population. Approximately a quarter of these patients will develop, during their life,
liver cirrhosis, which entails a high risk of complications and death. Successful
antiviral therapy can reduce the risk of
disease progression, but it is feasible only in a minority of patients because it includes
interferon which is contraindicated in the most advanced stages of the disease and in patients with severe impairment of other organs. Consequent to the launch of the first direct
antiviral agents (DAA), namely the
protease inhibitors telaprevir and
boceprevir, several molecules are in an advanced phase of clinical development to be used in association with
interferon or with other DAA (in
interferon-free combinations). This review focuses on the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety and resistance of
dasabuvir, a non-
nucleoside inhibitor of NS5B
viral RNA-dependent
RNA polymerase. Thanks to its pharmacokinetics,
dasabuvir can be administered twice daily. In combinations with other oral DAAs,
dasabuvir results in very high rates of SVR (about 95%) in patients with HCV genotype 1
infection with a good tolerability and safety. In conclusion,
dasabuvir is a good agent to be used in
interferon-free combinations for the treatment of
chronic hepatitis C.