interferon

Pretty much all the pathophysiology is consistent with a stress related illness, including this interferon-gamma biomarker.

The cure rate for interferon/ribavirin is ~40%, whereas the cure rate for the new therapies is 97%+, even for those who have failed interferon/ribavirin.

You would have to take interferon (makes you feel like you have the flu) for 8-12 months.

Examples include TNF inhibitors like Remicade/Humira/Enbrel; or specific IL-XX inhibitors like Dupixent/Cosentyx/Skyrizi/Tremfya/etc; or interferon therapies for MS.

Approach is interesting in that aspects of cancer biology make the cells more vulnerable to viral infection, eg supressed interferon production.

Later this fall Gilead and Abbvie will be launching all oral combinations, so interferon will pretty much be gone by end of 2014.

Googling shows the existing interferon treatments cost significant amounts - $15-50k if a quick skim is accurate - and are far less effective.

With the new drugs you don't need to get interferon injections anymore.

Many years ago, I worked in a lab where I synthesized a variant of Interferon using solid phase peptide synthesis.

Just a little correction: you don't have to take interferon with Sovaldi.

After a median duration of 64 weeks (IQR 41-84) on treatment, 80 (15%) patients on interferon gamma-1b and 35 (13%) on placebo had died.

I think Sovaldi's label has with and without interferon, but standard treatment often includes it.

Ebola is a very "clever" virus with its interferon-blocking properties.

Hep C regimens are getting closer and closer to "take a pill for a couple months" - no more interferon injections or multiple rounds of multiple drugs.

Interferon gamma is the main Th1 cytokine.

I knew one chap that was on Interferon, for life.