Currently Available Anti-Hepatitis Viruses Drugs

Abstract

The hepatotropic hepatitis viruses (HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV and HEV) cause acute and chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis and carcinoma in general population. While there are globally accessible vaccines for HAV and HBV, a recently approved HEV vaccine is restricted to China. Currently, there is a wide range of effective nucleoside analog-based antiviral drugs for treating chronic hepatitis B (e.g., Lamivudine, Adefovir, Tenofovir, Emtricitabine, Entecavir, Telbivudine, Famciclovir and Ganciclovir) and hepatitis C (e.g., Ribavirin, Telaprevir, Simeprevir, Paritaprevir, Sofosbuvir, Daclatasvir, Elbasvir, Ombitasvir and Velpatsvir). However, Ribavirin is the only treatment option for chronic hepatitis E in immunocompromised patients. Nonetheless, viral mutants associated drug-resistance or non-response to therapy remains a big challenge in clinical settings. Also, of the several popular herbal products used for hepatitis B and C, some are known to cause severe side-effects and hepatotoxicity.