BZF961

BZF961 is a novel small molecule inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-4A protease. It was developed by Novartis for the treatment of chronic HCV infection, particularly targeting genotypes 1, 2, and 4. The drug demonstrated potent antiviral activity in preclinical studies and early clinical trials, with significant reductions in viral load observed in patients. BZF961 is metabolized primarily by CYP3A4 and its exposure can be significantly increased when co-administered with ritonavir, a CYP3A4 inhibitor. Clinical studies showed that BZF961 was generally safe and well-tolerated both as monotherapy and when boosted with ritonavir. Despite promising results regarding safety and efficacy, development of BZF961 has been discontinued for strategic reasons[1][2][3][4].