Sofosbuvir Inhibits Hepatitis E Virus Replication In Vitro and Results in an Additive Effect When Combined With Ribavirin.

Abstract

Infection with hepatitis E virus genotype 3 may result in chronic hepatitis in immunocompromised patients. Reduction of immunosuppression or treatment with ribavirin or pegylated interferon-α can result in viral clearance. However, safer and more effective treatment options are needed. Here, we show that sofosbuvir inhibits the replication of hepatitis E virus genotype 3 both in subgenomic replicon systems as well as a full-length infectious clone. Moreover, the combination of sofosbuvir and ribavirin results in an additive antiviral effect. Sofosbuvir may be considered as an add-on therapy to ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis E in immunocompromised patients.

• Authors: Viet Loan Dao Thi, Yannick Debing, Xianfang Wu, Charles M Rice, Johan Neyts, Darius Moradpour, Jérôme Gouttenoire
• Journal: Gastroenterology (Gastroenterology) Vol. 150 Issue 1 Pg. 82-85.e4 (Jan 2016) ISSN: 1528-0012 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26408347 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2016 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• RNA, Viral
• Ribavirin
• Sofosbuvir

Topics

• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Chronic Disease
• Drug Synergism
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Hepatitis E (drug therapy)
• Hepatitis E virus (drug effects, physiology)
• Humans
• In Vitro Techniques
• RNA, Viral (drug effects, physiology)
• Ribavirin (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Sofosbuvir (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Virus Replication (drug effects)