Bulevirtide is in clinical development for the treatment of chronic hepatitis Delta virus infection in adult patients with compensated liver disease. Hepatitis D is a viral infection of the liver that is dependent on the patient already being infected with hepatitis B virus. The co-infection is thought to be more severe and cause more damage to the liver than hepatitis B alone. Currently there are limited treatment options for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis D virus infection.
Bulevirtide is a synthetic protein that is designed to specifically to bind to and block, a receptor present on liver cells. This receptor is essential to hepatitis B and D viruses entering and infecting the liver cells. By blocking the entry of hepatitis D virus, bulevirtide limits the virus ability to spread and replicate, reducing the symptoms of infection. If licensed, bulevirtide will become the first-in-class potent entry inhibitor offering a new therapeutic option for patients suffering from chronic hepatitis delta virus infection for whom limited therapeutic regimens are available.
Drugs
March 2020
Baloxavir marboxil for the post-exposure prevention of influenza in people aged 12 years and older
Baloxavir marboxil is given by mouth as tablets and works in a different way to existing flu medications by blocking a specific process which influenza viruses use to multiply within the body. There is evidence that this medication may be effective in people for whom existing flu medicines do not work. Additionally, only one dose of baloxavir marboxil is needed whereas existing flu prevention medications need to be taken over several days. If licenced, baloxavir marboxil may offer an additional prevention option for individuals who have been in contact with someone who has influenza.