| Theme |
Hepatitis B: Trends & Topics |
| Title |
Current Perspectives on the Development of Novel Anti—hepatitis B Virus Drugs |
| Author |
Motoyuki Otsuka |
Department of Gastroentrology, The University of Tokyo |
| Author |
Kazumaro Sekiba |
Department of Gastroentrology, The University of Tokyo |
| Author |
Kazuyoshi Funato |
Department of Gastroentrology, The University of Tokyo |
| Author |
Kazuhiko Koike |
Department of Gastroentrology, The University of Tokyo |
| [ Summary ] |
Although nucleos(t)ide analogues currently used are effective and safe drugs against chronic HBV, they cannot be suspended and HBs antigen levels do not decrease in most cases even after a long‒term medication. Thus, new drugs are in development worldwide, which have different modes of actions from the current therapy. To develop new antivirals, it is important to understand the life cycle of the virus. We recently found that two compounds, nitazoxianide and pevonedistat, have inhibitory effects on the viral RNA transcription from cccDNA. Besides these compounds, there is the urgent need to develop new antivirals against HBV. |