Hepatitis D future or investigational therapies
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Hepatitis D |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Hepatitis D future or investigational therapies On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Hepatitis D future or investigational therapies |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Hepatitis D future or investigational therapies |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2] Jolanta Marszalek, M.D. [3]
Overview
Future or Investigational Therapies
Although the lack of viral enzymes represents a challenge in the development of antiviral drugs, the life cycle of HDV relies deeply on postranslational modification and viral assembly. Therefore, these two steps are potential targets of antiviral drugs.
Prenylation inhibitors are one example of antiviral drugs that target HDV replication cycle. These drugs have been used in cancer treatment, and are now being studied for hepatitis D treatment.
The dependence of HDV on previous or concomitant infection of the hepatocyte by HBV, makes this another potential target for antiviral treatments. Myrcludex B (entry inhibitor of hepatitis B) was shown to be able to inhibit infection of the host cell by HBV in in vitro models and in vivo mice, consequently preventing infeccion by HDV. The drugs is currently in the trial phase.