The researchers showed that ezetimibe inhibited HCV infection in cell culture
and in mice transplanted with human liver cells.
And, unlike any currently available drugs,
ezetimibe was able to inhibit infection by all six types of HCV.
While current drugs are highly toxic and often cannot be tolerated by transplant patients taking immunosuppressant drugs, ezetimibe is quite safe and has been used long-term without harm by people to control their cholesterol, Uprichard said.