Disclosed are uses of immunotherapeutic compositions in combination with
Standard of Care (SOC), or
interferon therapy combined with anti-
viral therapy, for the improved treatment of
chronic hepatitis C
virus (HCV) infection and related conditions, including
liver function. The compositions, kits and uses of the invention, as compared to the use of SOC therapy alone: improves the rate of early
response to therapy as measured by early virologic markers (e.g., RVR and EVR), enlarges the
pool of patients who will have sustained responses to therapy over the long term, offers shortened courses of therapy for certain patients, enables “rescue” of patients who are non-responders or intolerant to SOC therapy, improves
liver function and / or reduces
liver damage in patients, and enables the
personalization of
HCV therapy for a patient, which can result in
dose sparing, improved
patient compliance, reduced side effects, and improved long term therapeutic outcomes.