| abstract |
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-l-benzofuran- 3-carboxamide (HCV-796), and an inhibitor of the serine protease NS3, e.g., boceprevir. 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(s) of HCV nonstructural gene(s) to identify the emergence of a treatment-resistant hepatitis C viral infection, particularly a benzofuran (e.g., HCV-796) and NS3 inhibitor (e.g., boceprevir) treatment- resistant hepatitis C viral infection. |