Experimental Drugs for the Treatment of Hepatitis D

J Exp Pharmacol. 2021 Apr 16:13:461-468. doi: 10.2147/JEP.S235550. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis D virus infection is the most severe form of viral hepatitis. Antiviral treatment is urgently needed to prevent patients from developing end stage liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma. Treatment options were limited to off-label use of pegylated interferon alfa until conditional approval of bulevirtide by the EMA (European Medicines Agency) in July 2020. However, several other antiviral compounds are currently investigated and represent promising agents for the treatment of chronic HDV infection.

Keywords: HBV/HDV coinfection; bulevirtide; hepatitis delta; interferon; lonafarnib.

Publication types

  • Review