Antiviral Therapy 2011; 16:1327–1333 (doi: 10.3851/IMP1942)
Original article Intravenous silibinin as ‘rescue treatment’ for on-treatment non-responders to pegylated interferon/ribavirin combination therapy Karoline Rutter1, Thomas-Matthias Scherzer1, Sandra Beinhardt1, Heidrun Kerschner 2, Albert F Stättermayer1, Harald Hofer1, Theresia Popow-Kraupp 2, Petra Steindl-Munda1, Peter Ferenci1* Department of Internal Medicine 3, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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*Corresponding author e-mail:
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Background: Intravenous silibinin (ivSIL) is a potent antiviral agent against HCV. In vitro silibinin (SIL) inhibits viral replication, possibly by inhibiting HCV RNA polymerase. In this proof-of-concept study, ivSIL was tested in on-treatment non-responders to full-dose of pegylated interferon-a2a/ribavirin (standard of care [SOC]). Methods: A total of 27 treatment-naive patients with
