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A Competent Hepatocyte Model Examining Hepatitis B Virus Entry through Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide as a Therapeutic Target
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A Competent Hepatocyte Model Examining Hepatitis B Virus Entry through Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide as a Therapeutic Target

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Chronic hepatitis B: New potential therapeutic drugs target

Wattana Leowattana1, Tawithep Leowattana2

  • 1Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. wattana.leo@mahidol.ac.th.

World Journal of Virology
|February 4, 2022
PubMed

Insights

New direct-acting antiviral drugs are being developed to target the hepatitis B virus (HBV) life cycle, aiming for a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection. This approach offers hope for sustained hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss and eventual eradication.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Virology
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) affects nearly 300 million people globally, causing significant liver-related morbidity and mortality.
  • Current treatments for CHB are complex, often requiring lifelong therapy due to persistent HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and lack of durable responses like HBsAg loss.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in the development of novel direct-acting antiviral drugs against HBV.
  • To explore therapeutic strategies targeting various stages of the HBV life cycle for improved treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current and emerging direct-acting antiviral therapies for CHB.
  • Analysis of drug candidates targeting HBV entry, cccDNA disruption, nucleocapsid assembly, transcription, and HBsAg release.

Main Results:

  • Several novel drug candidates are under investigation, targeting distinct steps in the HBV replication cycle.
  • These new agents show promise in disrupting HBV persistence and achieving functional cure or HBsAg loss.

Conclusions:

  • The development of direct-acting antivirals offers a promising path towards achieving a functional cure for CHB.
  • Combination therapy with existing antivirals and new direct-acting agents may lead to the ultimate eradication of HBV infection.

Keywords:
Chronic hepatitis BCovalently closed circular DNADirect acting antiviral drugsEntry blockFunctional cureHepatitis B surface antibodyHepatitis B surface antigenInhibiting hepatitis B surface antigen releaseInterfering hepatitis B virus transcriptionNucleocapsid assembly modulator

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