IL6 and hepatitis C virus infection: Considerable precedent exists for targeting host pathways that are activated by viruses, for example neutralizing inflammatory mediators which contribute to pathogenesis (e.g. IL-6 inhibitors for COVID-19), enhancing the immune response against the virus (e.g. interferon treatment of Hepatitis C) and antagonizing host pathways required for viral persistence (e.g. birinapant for Hepatitis B).