Interferon-Free Regimens: The Near Future, the Likely and the Not So Likely

Remarkable progress has been achieved in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) since interferon was first used to treat this pathogen more than 20 years ago. This article reviews the mechanisms through which interferon is believed to suppress HCV and lead to SVR. These observations are used to speculate as to whether an all-oral antiviral cocktail could cure HCV in the near future.