Grazingprevir

Grazingprevir is an antiviral medication used in combination therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. It is a protease inhibitor, specifically targeting the NS3/4A protease enzyme of the hepatitis C virus. This enzyme is essential for the virus's replication and maturation. By inhibiting this protease, grazingprevir prevents the virus from producing new, infectious viral particles.

Grazingprevir is typically administered orally and is often prescribed in fixed-dose combinations with other direct-acting antiviral agents, such as elbasvir, which targets the NS5A protein. This combination therapy approach allows for a pan-genotypic treatment, meaning it is effective against multiple genotypes of the hepatitis C virus. The recommended treatment duration with grazingprevir-containing regimens is usually 12 weeks, though it can vary depending on prior treatment history and the presence of cirrhosis.

The efficacy of grazingprevir in combination therapy has demonstrated high sustained virologic response (SVR) rates, which is the primary goal of HCV treatment and indicates the absence of the virus in the blood 12 weeks after completing therapy. Common side effects associated with grazingprevir-containing regimens are generally mild and may include fatigue, headache, and nausea. Serious adverse events are rare. Grazingprevir is metabolized by the liver and should be used with caution in patients with severe hepatic impairment.