Nitazoxanide, tizoxanide and other thiazolides are potent inhibitors of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus replication.

Nitazoxanide (NTZ), a thiazolide anti-infective, is active against anaerobic bacteria, protozoa, and a range of viruses in cell culture models, and is currently in phase II clinical development for treating chronic hepatitis C. In this report, we characterize the activities of NTZ and its active metabolite, tizoxanide (TIZ), along with other thiazolides against hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in standard antiviral assays. NTZ and TIZ exhibited potent inhibition of both HBV and HCV replication.

shRNAs targeting hepatitis C: effects of sequence and structural features, and comparision with siRNA.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. Currently available treatment options are of limited efficacy, and there is an urgent need for development of alternative therapies. RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural mechanism by which small interfering RNA (siRNA) or short hairpin RNA (shRNA) can mediate degradation of a target RNA molecule in a sequence-specific manner.

Enhancement of antiviral activity against hepatitis C virus in vitro by interferon combination therapy.

Alpha, beta, and gamma interferons (IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, IFN-gamma) have been shown to be effective inhibitors of HCV replication in human cell lines carrying HCV replicons. To help define the divergent cellular processes involved in the control of intracellular HCV replication by these agents, we have characterized the activity of monotherapies and combination therapies with the major types of human interferons against HCV replication in the HCV replicon-containing cell line, AVA5. IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, and omega interferon (IFN-omega) were equally effective at inhibiting HCV replication, while IFN-gamma was approximately 10-fold more potent.