Therapeutics: An undetermined target

Cell culture and mouse studies suggest (S)-chlorcyclizine could help treat HCV infection. Cell-based screening of a small molecule library identified the (S)-enantiomer of the antihistamine chlorcyclizine as an inhibitor of HCV growth in infected human cells (EC50 = 0.024 μM) with no cytotoxicity at 5 μM in uninfected human cells. In mouse models of HCV genotype 1b or 2a infection, (S)-chlorcyclizine decreased serum HCV titers compared with pretreatment baselines. Next steps include clinical testing of (S)-chlorcyclizine in patient with HCV infections and screening for more potent derivatives of chlorcyclizine. (See "HCV Sleeper Drug", page 15) ...