An international research team has identified a potential breakthrough in the fight against hepatitis E, a virus that currently lacks any approved vaccine or targeted treatment. Scientists from Germany and China report that bemnifosbuvir, a compound currently undergoing clinical trials for hepatitis C, effectively prevents the hepatitis E virus (HEV) from reproducing.
The study, published March 6 in the journal Gut, suggests that this drug could be repurposed to address a virus responsible for roughly 70,000 deaths annually. HEV is a significant global health threat, particularly for immunocompromised individuals, organ transplant recipients, and pregnant women.
How the drug stops viral replication
Researchers identified the compound by screening approximately 500 nucleotide analogues, which are molecules designed to mimic the building blocks of genetic material. Dr. Mara Klöhn of Ruhr University Bochum explained that because these synthetic molecules mirror the building blocks used by both human cells and viruses, they can be used to disrupt viral machinery.
To test the candidates, the team used a modified hepatitis E virus that emits a fluorescent signal. By observing this signal in infected cell cultures, they could determine if the virus was still replicating after treatment.
"With bemnifosbuvir we were able to see that the virus no longer replicated, while the treated cells remained healthy," said Jungen Hu of Heidelberg University. Follow-up testing in animals confirmed that the drug successfully reduced viral activity and liver inflammation.
Because bemnifosbuvir is already in clinical trials for hepatitis C, the path to approval for hepatitis E could be significantly shortened. Dr. Viet Loan Dao Thi and Professor Eike Steinmann noted that if current trials remain successful, the drug could potentially be available for off-label use against hepatitis E in the near future.
Despite its global impact, hepatitis E has historically received limited attention from the scientific community. The disease was first documented in the mid-1950s, yet decades later, specific antiviral therapies remain unavailable. This latest research was a collaborative effort involving Ruhr University Bochum, Heidelberg University Hospital, and Peking University, supported by international funding bodies including the German Research Foundation and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
