Christmas came early this year for people with Hepatitis C, as two much-anticipated treatments were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the last two weeks. Simprevir and sofosbuvier promise hepatitis treatments without the weakening side effects of interferon injections that most Hepatitis C patients have been painstakingly dealing with.

Simeprevir, brand name Olysio, is a protease inhibitor that has been approved for use in combination antiviral hepatitis treatment. Its full effect is achieved when used with peginterferon-alfa and ribavirin, two drugs that have been available to Hepatitis C patients.

Sold under the brand name Sovaldi, sofosbuvir contains a nucleotide analog inhibitor that prevents the Hepatitis C virus from replicating. It comes as a pill to be taken once a day without the need to inject any interferon drug. Sovaldi can also be used in a combined antiviral treatment with ribavirin, or with the combination of ribavirin and interferon.

Gilead Sciences has taken the lead in developing this drug, which can also treat four other strains of hepatitis C. Sovaldi is especially helpful to patients who cannot tolerate the side effects of interferon injections and combined antiviral treatments that range from insomnia, flu and anemia.

The main difference between the two new drugs is that sofosbuvir can be taken alone, while simeprevir must be paired with another drug.

To date, over 3 million people are suffering from chronic Hepatitis C in the United States. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) believes that the real number may actually be greater, especially among those from the baby boomer generation. Since last year, CDC has been pushing adults between 48 to 68 years old to get hepatitis screening and get appropriate treatment. Thus, these two drugs mark major advancements not only in treating hepatitis C, but also in preventing the spread of the virus.

For more information, check out the press releases from the FDA site:

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm376449.htm

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm377888.htm