2023-06-27 09:03:00
Hepatitis E mutation renders therapy ineffective
Through a single mutation in its genetic material, the hepatitis E virus develops resistance to an initially effective drug and thereby survives. This mechanism was discovered with the help of new computer-aided methods that can also be used in everyday clinical practice in the future.
Sofosbuvir has been used in hepatitis E
So far, there are no specific drugs for the treatment of hepatitis E. The only drug available to physicians is the broad-spectrum antiviral drug ribavirin, which often causes severe side effects. In one study it was observed that drug sofosbuvir struck and the amount of virus RNA initially decreased successfully. In the course of the observation period, however, it rose again. Researchers have now discovered why the hepatitis C drug sofosbuvir can fail to take effect: a mutation renders this therapy ineffective.
Fivefold loss of potency due to the mutation
In the retrospective analysis, one specific mutation called A1343V, responsible for replication of the hepatitis E virus. This mutation coincided with the increase in viral RNA. Laboratory experiments showed that the drug was five times less effective at eliminating the mutant virus than other genetic variants of the virus.
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