Hepatitis B is a common viral disease affecting the liver which can lead to severe liver diseases like cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. With a steadfast dedication to progress in hepatitis B vaccine and therapy development, our company offers a comprehensive array of services spanning the entire research and development continuum.
Overview of Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a viral infection which mainly affects the liver, caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) . This global health issue has impacted more than 2 billion people all over the world. The chronic infection with HBV is thought to be dangerous as it might progress into liver cirrhosis as well as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The infection can be contracted through contact with infected blood as well as various bodily fluids such as semen and vaginal fluids. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), out of 360 million people suffering from chronic HBV infection, there is an urgent need for effective vaccines and other therapies to address this issue.
Fig.1 Hepatitis B virus (HBV) particle. (Ballegeer M., et al., 2020)
Vaccine Development for Hepatitis B
Recombinant Vaccines
Engerix-B and Recombivax HB are examples of recombinant DNA hepatitis B vaccines which included HBsAg as a minor constituent. Such hepatitis b vaccines prompt the immune system to produce protecting antibodies.
Therapeutic Vaccines
Vaccines that are intended to strengthen the immune response of people who are already infected with HBV are currently in the development phase. According to the statement, GS-4774 therapy candidate expressed HBV proteins utilizing recombinant yeast and is a good example of therapeutic candidates.
Therapeutics Development for Hepatitis B
Nucleos(t)ide Analogues
Nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) constitute the linchpin of the existing antiviral treatment for chronic Hepatitis B and as such are antiviral agents of choice. This class of drugs includes entecavir and tenofovir which act as viral polymerase inhibitors and transcriptional suppressors. They have been shown to be effective against the viral load and the progression of liver illness.
Interferon Therapies
Pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alpha is an immune system enhancing therapy that helps treat Hepatitis type B. It activates the body's immune system to clear HBV while its therapeutic effect lasts but that is however, offset by side effects and differences in response rates.
Novel Therapies
New HBV traits approaches focus on different life cycle aspects of the HBV virus. For example, CpAMs can inhibit viral replication due to the dysfunction within the constituents of the viral capsid by employing capsid assembly modulators. Another promising area for research is the RNA interference (RNAi) therapies aimed to degrade viral RNA and inhibit viral proteins synthesis.
Our Services
Our comprehensive services include vaccine and therapeutic development for the encapsulated virus which is Hepatitis B. Through advanced techniques and strict understanding of the lifecycle of the virus, we develop accurate and efficient solutions.
- Chimpanzee Models
- Tupaia Models
- Human Chimeric Mouse Models: to support human liver cells and HBV infection.
- Duck Models
- Woodchuck Models
For therapy development, we engage in the research and development of novel antiviral drugs and immunotherapies. Our services include drug discovery, optimization, and preclinical research to ensure the development of therapies that are both potent and safe. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Iannacone, Matteo, and Luca G. Guidotti. "Immunobiology and pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus infection." Nature Reviews Immunology 22.1 (2022): 19-32.
- Nguyen, Mindie H., et al. "Hepatitis B virus: advances in prevention, diagnosis, and therapy." Clinical microbiology reviews 33.2 (2020): 10-1128.
- Ward, John W., and Pierre Van Damme. "Hepatitis B vaccines." Hepatitis B Virus and Liver Disease (2018): 91-117.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
