The Hepatitis Delta Virus, or HDV, is a defective virus that propagates with the help of the Hepatitis B virus. This means the Hepatitis D is a more acute stage of liver damage. Our company is at the forefront of developing solutions for Hepatitis D, offering a comprehensive suite of services that span from preclinical research to therapeutic development.
Overview of Hepatitis D
In layman's terms, delta hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver caused by ingesting the hepatitis delta virus also known as HDV. This virus is a little unique because it's a satellite virus and depends on the hepatitis B virus for its envelope. Unfortunately, this means that people who want to get rid of this virus have to already be infected with HBV. If a person manages to get both HDV and HBV, their condition will become much more dangerous and will develop into a severe infection at an advanced stage. Because of how quickly it can lead to a cirrhosis of the liver and increase the risk of getting cancer, it is advised for a person to get treated immediately.
Fig.1 Structure of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) virions. (Mentha N., et al., 2019)
Vaccine Development for Hepatitis D
- HBV Vaccines as a Preventative Measure
As HDV is dependent on HBV, the prevalent approach for avoiding an HDV infection is hepatitis B virus vaccination. Contemporary vaccinations for HBV are expected to be protective against both the infections of HBV and HDV. Such vaccines include the following:
Recombinant HBV Vaccines
These recombinant vaccinations comprise only a small portion of the surface proteins of the virus and are considered safe, effective, and to provide long term coverage.
Hepatitis B Birth Dose (HepB-BD)
In order to prevent the transmission of Hepatitis B and HDV nefariously from infection mothers to new-born children, it is necessary to administer the first dose of the vaccination within 24 hours after child birth.
- Experimental HDV-Specific Vaccines
Even though there are no documented HDV specific vaccinations, vigorous research is underway to create the vaccine that protects individuals already contaminated with the HBV virus from being further infected by the HDV. That includes:
Bivalent or Multivalent Vaccines
These disposable vaccines are still in the developmental phase and are expected to act against the HBV and HDV by stimulating a protective immune reaction.
DNA Vaccines
This involves utilizing plasmids which harbor the genes encoding the HDV antigens. It is designed to elicit an immune response specifically against the HDV.
Therapeutics Development for Hepatitis D
- Interferon-Based Therapies
A WHO recommended treatment for chronic infection of Hepatitis D is the use of Pegylated interferon alpha (PEG-IFN-α). Although is helps reduce liver inflammation and viral replication, its overall effectiveness is limited, achieving a 30% success rate for sustained virological response.
- Nucleos(t)ide Analogues
These drugs are not potent enough in suppressing HDV replication, but are used in treating patients infected with both HBV and HDV as the drugs help manage the HBV component.
- Novel Therapies
There are a number of studies currently being carried out for innovative therapeutic methods.
Drugs such as Myrcludex B stop the entry of HDV by blocking the receptors on the hepatocytes which allow interaction with NTCP.
Evidence from clinical trials suggests that lonafarnib – a profilng inhibitor taken orally – may interfere with HDV particle assembly and needs to be further evaluated.
A new approach for therapy is claimed by REP 2139, a nucleic acid polymer (NAP), that is said to reduce HBsAg and HDV RNA.
Our Services
The development of effective HDV vaccines and therapeutics requires an integrated approach, including pathogen and host studies, drug discovery, and preclinical studies. Our company's services are critical to advancing the development of vaccines and therapeutics for hepatitis D:
Preclinical Research
- Pharmacodynamics Study Services
- Pharmacokinetics Study Services
- Drug Safety Evaluation Services
Disease Models
- S-HDAg Transgenic Mice
- L-HDAg Transgenic Mice
- Humanized Liver Mice
- Chimpanzee Natural Infection Model with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
Hepatitis D remains a significant global health challenge, but advancements in vaccine and therapeutic development offer hope for better disease management and prevention. Our company is dedicated to advancing these efforts, providing a range of services to support the development of effective solutions against Hepatitis D. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Mentha, Nathalie, et al. "A review on hepatitis D: From virology to new therapies." Journal of advanced research 17 (2019): 3-15.
- Negro, Francesco, and Anna S. Lok. "Hepatitis D: a review." JAMA (2023).
- Koh, Christopher, Theo Heller, and Jeffrey S. Glenn. "Pathogenesis of and new therapies for hepatitis D." Gastroenterology 156.2 (2019): 461-476.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
