IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HCV REPLICON VARIANTS WITH REDUCED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO BENZOFURANS, AND METHODS RELATED THERETO

摘要

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.