Perspectives for the Treatment of Hepatitis B Virus Infections | CMAC

Perspectives for the Treatment of Hepatitis B Virus Infections

Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2000; 2(3):4-18

Type
Journal article

Abstract

Translated and reprinted with permission from «International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents» 1999;122:81-97.

There are an estimated 350 million people throughout the world who are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Although HBV infection can be prevented through vaccination, HBV has remained the most significant viral pathogen infecting man. Interferon a is currently the only treatment specifically approved by regulatory authorities throughout the world for chronic hepatitis B. However, interferon therapy is associated with several side effects and variable, and often unsatisfactory, response rates. Recent attempts at developing an effective therapy for HBV infections have capitalized on the HBV-specified DNA polymerase as target enzyme. A variety of nucleosides (and nucleotides) that had proved to be affective against other viral infections are further examined for their anti-HBV potential. Primarily resulting as a spin-off the search for effective anti-HSV and anti-HBV agents, such compounds as famciclovir (penciclovir), BMS-200475 (entecavir), lamivudine (3ТС), (-)FTC, L(-)Fd4C, L-FMAU, DAPD (DXG), bis(POM)-PMEA and bis(POC)-PMPA have been identified as effective and promising candidate anti-HBV drugs. But as it has become obvious, future HBV therapy may reside in combination drug therapy to achieve the highest possible virus reduction and minimize the likelihood of drug resistance development.

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