HCV Drug Discovery 2012

The newest therapies in more than a decade for people infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) have recently hit the market. In addition to different versions of this new class of protease inhibitors, other direct acting antivirals (DAAs) such as polymerase inhibitors are also advancing in late stage clinical trials. Join fellow chemists, biologists and virologists focusing on HCV drug discovery and development for CHI's 5th annual HCV Drug Discovery meeting where updates on various combinations of the new DAAs will be presented. Working towards an interferon-free regimen is the backdrop against which much drug development is now proceeding. In this context, the development of earlier stage candidates will also be examined. Future anti-HCV therapies that target on host/virus interactions will also be covered in the day and a half of 30 minute podium presentations, interactive panel and breakout roundtable discussions and networking breaks.

Topics will likely include:

-Possibilities for an interferon-free drug cocktail to treat HCV

-Update on HCV protease and polymerase inhibitors

-Medicinal chemistry strategies for small molecule inhibitors of 'other' viral proteins (non-polymerase, non-protease)

-Progress on targeting viral host proteins that block viral entry, fusion or assembly

-Immunomodulation of host factors related to HCV infection