Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and infects approximately 75 million individuals worldwide. It is also one of the major causes of liver cancer and liver transplants. The elucidation of the HCV genome, and the development of a whole cell system to study the virus spurred the search for novel direct acting antiviral drugs to cure this disease. This global effort culminated in the development of direct acting antiviral drugs that led to cure rates approaching 100% in all patient populations after only 8-12 weeks of therapy. These efforts resulted in one of the greatest achievements in public health and provides the potential for eliminating HCV as a major disease worldwide.
This volume is aimed at a broad audience of academic and industrial scientists interested in the discovery and development of drugs to treat viral diseases and those interested in reading about one of the most unique accomplishments in biomedical research. The volume will provide a one of a kind reference work that highlights the many efforts, from the discovery of the HCV virus, to the invention of breakthrough medicines and their use in the real world to cure patients. It is the companion book to the volume "HCV: The Journey from Discovery to a Cure - Volume II".

Identification of the virus, the medical need and clearing the blood supply

Mapping the HCV genome
The molecular virology of HCV
The development of the HCV replicon system
The Evolution of IFN therapy for HCV
Evolution of HCV NS5B Non-Nucleoside Inhibitors
Evolution of HCV NS5B Nucleoside & Nucleotide Inhibitors
Discovery and Development of Sofosbuvir
Discovery of Beclabuvir
Discovery of Dasabuvir
Evolution of HCV NS3/4 protease inhibitors
Discovery and Development of Telaprevir
Discovery and Development of Boceprevir
Discovery and Development of Asunaprevir.-Discovery and Development of Grazoprevir
Discovery and Development of Simeprevir
Discovery and Development of Paritaprevir & Glecaprevir.