2017 Chronic Hepatitis Drug Pipeline
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In 2017, we are getting closer than ever to eliminating the burden of chronic, viral hepatitis. The pharmaceutical industry is continually evolving in this area – creating safer, more effective therapies to get rid of chronic Hepatitis B and chronic Hepatitis C.
Hepatitis B
According to Timothy M. Block, PhD, Co-Founder and President of the Hepatitis B Foundation and its Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, excitement and anticipation of a cure for Hepatitis B is growing, partially due to the success of Hepatitis C being “curable.” The currently approved oral antivirals for Hepatitis B do a good job of suppressing viral DNA levels, but none of them reliably achieve a functional cure – which is a sustained reduction in virus and other disease markers in the blood even after a drug is stopped. As such, there is still a need to develop new drugs that attack different pathways of the Hepatitis B life cycle to eventually achieve a cure.
There are more than 30 new Hepatitis B drugs being developed that differ from the currently approved therapies [interferons and nucleos(t)ides]. In general, the new Hepatitis B drugs are either:
- Direct-acting that target the virus
- Indirect-acting that target the human host
Direct-Acting Hepatitis B Drugs in Development
siRNA = Short for “silencing” RNA, these are nucleotide drugs that interfere with and cause the destruction of the viral RNA.
- ARB-1467 is currently in phase II development*
- ALN-HBV is currently in preclinical trials
- Hepbarna (BB-HB-331) is currently in preclinical trials
- ARB-1740 is currently in preclinical trials
- Lunar-HBV is currently in preclinical trials
*Four phases of clinical research are conducted before a pharmaceutical drug is approved by the FDA. Each phase carries out a different type of research, lasts for a certain time frame, and uses a different amount of people. Phase I tests 20 to 100 people with the disease or condition for safety and dosage. Phase II tests up to several hundred people for efficacy and side effects. Phase III lasts for 1 to 4 years and tests 300 to 3,000 volunteers who have the disease or condition for efficacy and monitors any adverse reactions. In Phase IV, several thousand people with the disease or condition are now monitored for safety and efficacy. Learn more about clinical research and FDA-approval.
TDF Pro Drugs = A modified tenofovir drug that can get into liver cells more easily.
- CMX 157 is currently in phase II development
Entry Inhibitors = These interfere with Hepatitis B getting into liver cells via attachment to a specific viral protein called ‘preS1’ and a specific liver cell protein.
- Myrcludex B is currently in phase II development
Capsid Inhibitors = Interfere with viral capsid formation, which is the protein shield that covers and protects the viral DNA.
- Morphothiadin (GLS4) is currently in phase II development
- NVR 3-778 is currently in phase II development
- AIC 649 is currently in phase I development
- JNJ56136379 is currently in phase I development
- HBV CpAM is in preclinical trials
- AB-423 is in preclinical trials
HBsAg Inhibitors = Interfere with the production of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), which is needed for the virus to enter and exit the liver cell.
- Rep 2139 is currently in phase II development
- Rep 2165 is currently in phase II development
- RO7020322 (RG7834) is currently in phase I development
Antisense Molecules = Binds to the viral mRNA to prevent it from turning into a viral protein
- IONIS-HBVRx (GSK3228836) is currently in phase I development
- IONIS-HBVLRx (GSK33389404) is currently in phase I development
Indirect-Acting Hepatitis B Drugs in Development
Therapeutic Vaccines = These drugs use vaccine technology to stimulate immunity as a potential therapy.
- GS 4774 is currently in phase II development
- INO-1800 is currently in phase I development
- HB-110 is currently in phase I development
- TG1050 is currently in phase I development
- HepTcell is currently in phase I development
- TomegaVax HBV is in preclinical trials
Innate Immune Defense Pathway = Compounds that activate the innate immune system.
- GS 9620 is currently in Phase II development
- RO6864018 (RG7795, ANA773) is currently in phase II development
- SB9200 is currently in phase II development
Host Acting Pathway = Compounds that induce programmed cell death
- EYP001 is currently in phase 1 development
- CRV 431 (CPI 431-32) is currently in preclinical trials
Hepatitis C
2016 was an amazing year for Hepatitis C drug progress. In 2016, Harvoni and Viekira Pak were the most likely prescribed Hepatitis C medications. In addition, Zepatier, Viekira XR, Technivie and Epclusa were approved by the FDA to treat Hepatitis C. Used for different Hepatitis C genotypes, these medications boast a very high success rate, eliminating the Hepatitis C virus in 95 to 100 percent of patients.
However, there is always room for improvement. The following pharmaceutical companies are leading the way:
Gilead
This combination consists of sofosbuvir, velpatasvir and voxilaprevir to treat people who had failed previous therapies and to provide higher cure rates for those who had not been previously treated (genotypes 1 through 6). The cure rates in phase 3 clinical trials were 95 to 98 percent. This led to being granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA for those with genotype 1 who had failed a previous course of therapy that contained a NS5A inhibitor and being submitted in December 2016 for approval to treat all genotypes.
AbbVie
The combination of glecaprevir (ABT-493) plus pibrentasvir (ABT-530) was used to treat genotypes 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 for a duration of just eight weeks. This combination was granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA for those with genotype 1 who had failed a previous course of therapy that contained a NS5A inhibitor. In December 2016 AbbVie applied to the FDA to market and treat all Hepatitis C genotypes with this drug combination.
Janssen
- Samatasvir – currently in phase 1 development for genotypes 1, 2, 3 and 4, and in a phase II study with Olysio (simeprevir) in treatment-naïve patients with genotype 1b or 4.
- AL-335 (odalasvir) – currently in a phase IIa study for genotype 1.
- ACH-3422 and Odalasvir (ACH-3102) and Sovaprevir – currently in phase II studies in for genotype 1.
- Odalasvir plus sofosbuvir is in phase II development for genotype 1.
- Odalasvir, AL-335, and simeprevir in treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients with and without cirrhosis for genotypes 1 through 6 are in a phase IIb study.
Merck
MK-3682 (polymerase inhibitor), grazoprevir (protease inhibitor) plus ruzasvir (NS5A inhibitor) with and without ribavirin to treat genotypes 1, 2 and 3 is currently in phase II development. This same combination is also being evaluated in an ongoing phase II study to treat people with genotype 1 who had failed a previous course of a direct-acting antiviral therapy (Harvoni or Zepatier).
The investment in finding better therapeutic solutions for chronic Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C is immense. The complexity in combining drugs is increasing in the effort to find cures for these viral menaces. Our hopes are high as the race heats up to find both direct and indirect-acting antivirals for Hepatitis B and better, safer, less expensive, pan-genotypic solutions for Hepatitis C.
Related Articles
http://hcvadvocate.org/news/NewsUpdates_pdf/Advocate_2017/advocate0117.pdf#AASLD, HCV Medications: Current Standard of Care, Alan Franciscus, Retrieved January 8, 2017, HCV Advocate, January 2017.
http://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/free-newsletters/fall-2016-b-informed-newsletter/explaining-the-hepatitis-b-drug-pipeline/, Explaining the Hepatitis B Drug Pipeline, Timothy M. Block, PhD, Retrieved January 8, 2017, hepb.org, 2017.
http://www.hepb.org/treatment-and-management/drug-watch/, Drug Watch: Compounds in Development for Chronic Hepatitis B, Retrieved January 8, 2017, hepb.org, 2017.
47 Comments
IT COSTS SO MUCH I CANT AFFORD IT!
You can find sovosbuvir +Daklatasvir for less than US$ 2,000.for 12 weeks treatment in India, Thailand or Indonesia, it’s generic but it works very well.
If she (Hepette)can scrape together the $2000 plus airfare to India and back. Much better than the $$$$$$ Big Pharmaceutical is raking in for the treatment. Effing ridiculous. Makes me so freaking mad. There should be a law against it. I’m surprised insurance co haven’t fought against this, what seems like price gouging to me……
Is there a help line to tell you where to go in India? My insurance denied me here.I have had it for 30 years this year.
There is no help line on these drugs, but the manufacturer is Mylan Laboratories Limited, F-4 &F-12, MIDC,Malegoan, Sinnar, Nashik – 422113,Maharashtra, INDIA.
My understanding, Mylan produces these drugs under license from US Pharma Coy (Gilead and….forgot the name) for patients in 3rd world countries, so I don’t know if they can take the order from US/Europe…so the alternative solution is to get the drugs in India, Thailand or Indonesia directly, I am an Indonesian based in Jakarta
GoodDay Every-One My Names are Roberto Octavio Lazarte, am from Peru in Lima, Me and my entire family has been suffering for hepatitis B from birth, We have gone to all the hospitals and there wasn’t any solution even our family DR confirm it to us that there is no cure for this disease but can only be control even my 3 kids are Hepatitis B positive, till this day a friend of mine told me about this clinic who have help her to get rid of this incurable disease name Hepatitis B, That was how i give it a try, to my fullest surprise me and my entire families are no Negative of Hepatitis B even it was a surprise to my scientist Dr who graduated with PhD here in India, he now direct all his Hepatitis B positive patient to this clinic name OKOSUN HEALTH MED LAB TEC, don’t be left out contact him if you are diagnose with this same disease for cure their email: phamacologistokosunc@gmail.com whatsApp him on Mobile: +14243847770
I’m living in Ireland I’m Italian can I find this cure here too???? Are they avalible in Europe??
Hi Veronica, Harvoni is available in the UK on the NHS. After 25+ years of genotype 1 and much suffering, I completed treatment in October last year and am now virus free. Its taken a while since treatment, but I’m finally starting to feel healthier! Check up with your health practioner, but I’d bet its available in Ireland. All the best of luck on your journey to SVR (sustained virologic response) – clearing the virus!
If you are living in Ireland have you gone to the National Liver Treatment Clinic in St. Vincent’s Hospital ?
As an EU citizen you are entitled to full treatment there.
My Harvoni was $500 a day, and lasted 12 weeks, but it worked. Insurance covered most of it. Now if I can just find a new kidney I’ll be fit as a fiddle.
Hang in there, sir. I got a liver transplant and now I’m fit as a fiddle. It can happen. AFTER the transplant I was treated successfully with Harvoni after “flunking” interferon et alia 3 times.
I failed Harvoni, and I now have cirrhosis, but you give me hope. I know there are new drugs being tested too, so who knows. Can I ask how long ago you had your transplant? I really don’t know much about quality of life issues, but it sounds like yours is good.
Bummer you failed Harvoni. That’s pretty unusual. Hang in there–there’s new medicine coming along all the time now. I had my transplant in November 2014. You’re quite right, my quality of life is EXCELLENT. I feel perfectly normal, to the extent that I know what normal is. My cirrhosis had been dragging me down a lot more than I had realized. Those effects were completely gone when I awoke from surgery. I am not exaggerating.
I know u must have been near death before the transplant, but how lucky u are to be one of the lucky few who got a transplant. Even if your Hep C comes back, the new txs have been very effective in putting people in remission. WOW, a new lease in life.
Thank you. You are 100% correct–I still haven’t gotten over the thrill of the new lease on life. Also, you’re right about the new drugs–There’s no longer a need to fear a hep C relapse. But fortunately I wasn’t near death; mainly I was fatigued as all get-out, hard to walk up stairs, tired and weak, and ITCHING like a maniac–that was the worst part because it was driving me insane. But I was hanging in there pretty well. In fact, I was still working (a very soft job with sympathetic and cooperative bosses–Otherwise, no way) As you say, I was lucky, all the way around.
I do not feel you are exaggerating at all, it is your story and it is a great one , it gives us all hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
I am 31 yrs now, did rib,inter, pega, and a newer drug in 2013 Victrellia , one of the first antiviral, made me so sick, I went endemic, was hospitalized , had 3 blood transfusions and to boot , it lasted 6 moths, needle in stomach and very sick, lost my hair a low and behold it did not work. I am worse now than then, I have an awful appitatite now, my hair will not grow normal, I feel so much worse with the virus now then ever, I feel all the energy has been sucked out of me. I am afraid now to take anymore of there drugs they only test for 2 yrs, what about the long term ?
They have recently found a mass growing lateral to my pancerous , and my bile ducts from my liver and pancreous are both swollen and leaking bile. I am suppose to get that camera but the one that goes past your stomach and can go where your liver is and they can even take a piece out of it, but I feel my specialist is not taking his very serious , the MRI said I should get a ERSC, so that they can take care of the leision on the mass to stop it leaking, yet my specialists secretary said he said you might not even need that test, yet my lymnodes are also swollen and it gives the size of them. I am afraid because if you look this up you will see I have never heard of this till l looked , look up your Vader and Ampulla and that shows you where my mass is , it is at the head of that.
Has anyone else gone through this swollen lymph nodes, a mass wheremine is? Any help would be much appreciated thanks for listening Ms.Corey
Like Ronnie says: hang in there, bro.
It’s progressed to cancer now, I’m being evaluated for a transplant. They don’t want to treat the Hep C now, they say they can do it after the transplant. I don’t know man, this evaluation thing is long and drawn out.
Terry I’m sorry to hear your care is moving slowly. I live in Michigan N. of Detroit. I’ve had HCV for 22+ years. A 1996 test came back positive for genotype 1a. My treatment has been put off for years due to the only and 1st options(Peg & Interferon) my specialist feared my depression would get to severe as that’s one of the major side effects. He told me my genotype was hardest to treat but slowest at progressing so he was very good at testing every 6 months. Then I moved to where I live now from T.C., MI> (Northern Mich). Medicaid suffered due to Governor Snyder’s actions not to join ACA until about a year later, the state lost a lot of federal funding. To get to the point, care in this area is horrible. My meds were ordered and approved for Tx in 2014.. Only for me to discover the new specialist ignored the contraindications of my Lovenox so the meds went back and I still wait for treatment. My effects from Hep C mirror Corey Brunskill who posted above. I have no idea where my liver is at as far as health. I feel due to being on Medicaid we are not treated like patients who have private insurance. I hope they move along and I really wanted to say that none of us should be set aside for Tx until we have cancer but I’ve read numerous information that suggests that’s exactly how the states are approving treatment when we’re so ill, that it’s life threatening, as if Hep C alone isn’t life threatening enough to get treated asap. I also wanted to mention a support group incase your not yet apart of one and would like to be, or just oin and read others experiences and outcomes. If your interested it’s simply called, Hep C Support Group. There are many in the group who have been treated over and over, some with cirrhosis and some whose viral loads are extreme. There’s a lot of knowledge and everyone is so understanding, plus if you ask a question many will give there experience and the ability to share with others dealing with the same issues is so supportive, and everyone realizes how this journey is not understood by some that do not have this diagnosis. I will be thinking of you and your journey and I wish the best outcome for you. Take care. . .
Finally there are all sorts of generic drugs coming out that are way cheaper. I am travelling to Thailand to pick up my 3 month course of generic Harvoni for $1200 usd however just today I found an online pharmacy that is $240 cheaper but the kicker is that they only provide 28 pills per bottle just short of 30 days which if you have to go o course of 12 week treatment you would have to buy another bottle for 6 pills!! WTH I have been diagnosed for 22 years and fortunately have never been sick – I just want to get rid of this virus for good!!
I found out I had Hep C after my liver became cirrhotic so I had a hard time getting approval for Harvoni. Unfortunately, I was one of the 3 or so percent for whom the 12 week course didn’t work. I was using Illinois Medicaid at the time so extended treatment was out of the question, I was lucky to be approved at all.
You would think that after spending the money for 12 weeks of Harvoni it would be common sense to cover one more month of treatment. I had shown not detected after four weeks, but had a very low count of 120 at the end of 12 weeks.
I started out at 6 million per deciliter so, in my mind, I should have been given one more month.
It’s so ridiculous! I am originally from Canada but now living in Mexico and they don’t have any treatment for Hep C -they are doing trials of the interferon etc now in Mexico City apparently.
The blood tests down here to find out viral load etc are so expensive! Plus no doctor is going to know how to really treat me as they have no experience with the drug. I guess I will have to be my own doctor which I have done for years.
I absolutely hate the pharma companies. but you can’t kill this thing with herbs….I am usually natural all the way and stay away from pharma on any scale.
I am sorry to hear that they won’t give you one more month of treatment when you are so close however I did find the generic drug online and 1 mth bottle is $330 usd for 28 pills – you might have to go on your own to completely eradicate the virus.
My God, the health care system in the USA is one of the worst in the world. I sympathise with you.
Even the $32,000.00 bottle only has a 28 count
if you still need sovosbufir (sovaldi) by gilend I will give you an interesting offer price of $ 5000 / bottle is the postage to your place
I have hepatitis c genotype 3 and My 24 week course of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir has been completed 7 months ago with 5 months of no viral load detection. But report of HVC RNA (viral load) after 7 month shows viral load (3146 iu/ml). So I consulted my doctor today, He suggest me to start injection therapy ( I.e. Interferon alpha 2b and ribavirin) because of failure of DAA drug.
I want to kwon what happen if I take sofosbuvir and daclatasvir with Interferon and ribavirin????
When you start treatment what was u viral load and stage of fibrosis and where u get these medication?.Iam also concerned about these medication because I am diagnosed hepatitis c genotype 3 two months ago
My viral load is approx 100000 iu/ml, when I started the treatment. No fibrosis found. I got these medicine from Kolkata (India) and medicine name as follows-
Resof (sofosbuvir 400 mg)
Hepcfix (daclatasvir 60 mg).
Now I am taking these medicine with Ribavirin for 24 week as per Doctor advice start from April 2017
How long did u take these medicine?Now are you free from hepatitis C?
Previously I have taken these medicines without Ribavirin for six months starts from Feb 2016 to Aug 2016. As I mentioned above after approx 6 months of no virus detection in my blood, I relapsed. So I starts taking again these medicines with Ribavirin for another six months starts from April 2017 as per Doctor’s advice.
I’ve completed my 3rd treatment. Interferon-ribavarin 15 years ago, 6 months
of Harvoni (3-9/15) which failed. Liver cancer was found about a year ago, liver resection which didn’t go well last May. Epclusa from August 16 to January 17. Found out that failed. To top it off I developed degenerative disc disease wuthin constant level 7 pain. Neurosurgery is out. Transplant is slim. I’ve had one dose of radioembolization Y90. Results Monday. I’ve had this since 1972 with no effect until recently. A final decision about length of life will be made by May 15 after the neurosurgery consult. I’m just plain tired and have left out many details.
dr.adigba helped me cured my disease. contact him now for your own healing +2347064810223
best wishes to you ” 2A “….hopefully you can be employed in a clinical trial somewhere.
I am Dr Iftikhar Hussain Shah from Pakistan. I am a specialist in medicine. Hepatitis C is prevalent in most parts of the country. Prevalence rates vary from 5 -10 % in different areas. We have got lot of experience regarding treatment of this disease. Now with availability of new direct acting antivirals, the landscape has changed . Total treatment cost with sofosbuvir and daclatasvir does not exceed $2000. Results are excellent. This includes cost of HCV RNA tests by PCR. and genotyping.
How true is it? It is treatment or cure?
How about Hepatitis B cure? Does we have a chance for a normal life?
I was a hepatitis B carrier, and I found it out ……….
Please share how did you do that? Any medication therapy?
I’ m waiting for a cure for hepatitis B. Now, I have a hope. I just found out someone had died because of Hep B and she had only few hundreds viral load, she had liver cirrhosis with only 300 viral load. This virus is a killer. I ve seen at news that case in Romania, a 27 years singer had died last week because of hep B, non alcoholic, healthy life style, eating healthy, no smoke, viral load only 300 on December but after 6 months her virus had transformed in liver cancer. I m terrified, I don’t want to die. My viral load is 4000 and I didn’t receive any medication. I have a hope since I ve read your article. How may I became a volunteer for HBV research?
hello diana am dr foster dont be scared of the virus okay we can help you kindly contact me on +18013412904, you can text or calling any comfortable for you.
can still also email me on naturalherbalcenter@outlook.com
Can I get a second life ???
am from india and suffering from Hepetitis B from last 4 years but i came to about this on 2012 and seeking any complete curable medicine for this. i heared like combination of birinapant and entecavir will cure this disease completely but am not sure which phase is really in it. like pre clinical & clinical and not sure when will be comming into public market with complete approval could any please help me on this.
I am from india and suffering from Hepetitis B from last 4 years but i came to about this on 2012 and seeking any complete curable medicine for this. i heared like combination of birinapant and entecavir will cure this disease completely but am not sure which phase is really in it. like pre clinical & clinical and not sure when will be comming into public market with complete approval could any please help me on this.
Can I get a second chance to live like other people.
I’m so worried about my life because we in this community have no idea when a cure is going to found. I’m always on the web looking and waiting for a good news but for so many years nothing has been found. I know all the experts are doing their best to work hard to find a cure for HBV. My only request is for them is to speed up with the search. I’m very afraid of my future!
I just found out last month that I have Hepatitis B. I am a nurse and have been for many years. I have lost up to 30 pounds since the end of last year. My appetite was terrible. I had nausea and vomiting, which is something I very rarely have. On December 7th I started taking Hepatitis B natural herbal formula i purchased from Best Health Herbal Centre and 1 week later I could feel a change in energy,vomiting stopped totally and better sleep and I felt alive again!last week my doctor confirmed am Hepatitis B free totally,now am back to normal life ..please don’t fail to contact Best Health Herbal Centre for Hepatitis B natural herbal formula .(ww w .besthealthherbalcentre. com)