Best treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus infection

The current European guidelines recommend that interferon alfa be given in combination with ribavirin as the treatment of choice for patients with moderate or severe hepatitis C virus (HCV) related disease (1). In the United Kingdom, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has endorsed this therapy (2). Recently, however, two types of pegylated interferon, which differ in their pharmacokinetic and chemical properties, have been produced. The addition of polyethyleneglycol to the standard interferon molecule extends its half life thus allowing a more convenient once-weekly dosing regimen with more favourable pharmacokinetic properties.