HCV research has taken great strides in recent years with the discovery and clinical development of multiple new HCV drugs. Among those drugs are the DAAs which include NS5A inhibitors.
NS5A inhibitors have been found particularly effective in the treatment of HCV where they have been used in combination with other protease inhibitors such as NS5B inhibitors (e.g. sofosbuvir), pegylated interferons (e.g. peginterferon alfa-2a), and ribonucleic analogs (e.g. ribavirin). The ever present risk of viral strains developing resistance has been a main factor in why they are used in combination with one or more complementary drug.
Adverse effects, and extensive and complicated drug regimens with accompanying low compliance rates, have been a hindrance in the development of antiviral treatments. The combination of NS5A and NS5B inhibitors has produced positive results in this regard.