In a recent trial, researchers found that sofosbuvir, along with
ribavirin, cured about three-quarters of patients with genotype 2 or 3
hepatitis C.
But Saag predicted that in the next year or two, there will be oral drug regimens that bypass interferon and ribavirin altogether.
"There should be a lot of new options for hepatitis C patients in the next couple years," he said. These new findings, Saag added, "are an important step. But they are not the final step.