Sofosbuvir, a cornerstone of directly acting antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C, acts by inhibiting which viral target?

• A NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase ✓
• B NS5A protein required for replication complex assembly
• C NS3/4A serine protease
• D E2 envelope glycoprotein-mediated viral entry

Explanation

Sofosbuvir is a uridine nucleotide analogue that is phosphorylated intracellularly to its active triphosphate form, which inhibits the NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and terminates viral RNA chain elongation. Protease inhibitors such as simeprevir act on NS3/4C, while daclatasvir and ledipasvir inhibit NS5C. No currently licensed HCV therapy blocks E2-mediated entry.

Reference: Katzung's Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, 16th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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