Health / Health News

    Allergy drug inhibits hepatitis C

    NIH | APRIL 9, 2015

    An over-the-counter drug indicated to treat allergy symptoms limited hepatitis C virus activity in infected mice. A new study suggest that the drug, chlorcyclizine HCl (CCZ), potentially could be used to treat the virus in people.


    The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes liver inflammation and often leads to serious complications such as cirrhosis. Early diagnosis and treatment of HCV can prevent liver damage. Drugs are available to treat HCV, but costs can reach tens of thousands of dollars.

    The study found that CCZ blocked the early stage of HCV infection likely by impairing the ability of the virus to enter human liver cells grafted in the mice. The outcome was similar to that of commonly used antiviral drugs but without those drugs’ toxic side effects.

    The researchers will next study how the drug affects people. CCZ is currently used for the treatment of allergies, not for HCV.




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