December 8, 2005—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has fast-tracked the first protease inhibitor (PI) to treat the hepatitis C virus, which affects at least one-third of people living with HIV. If proved safe and effective, VX-950, as the PI is now known, will be hurried through clinical trials. In a Phase Ib trial, the drug reduced hep C significantly—on its own, with no other drugs taken.