Hepatitis E infects millions globally each year, claiming around 70,000 lives annually. Currently, there is no approved treatment or vaccine for the virus, leaving individuals with weakened immune systems at a significantly higher risk of severe disease and mortality.
Until now, a strong immune system has been the only defense against hepatitis E virus (HEV).
A new study suggests hope in the form of a drug originally developed for hepatitis C. Researchers from Germany and China tested a library of 500 antiviral compounds using a modified fluorescent version of HEV to track viral growth in cell cultures.
Published in the journal Gut, the study identified Bemnifosbuvir as the most promising candidate. Bemnifosbuvir, currently in critical trials for hepatitis C, was shown to halt HEV replication without damaging healthy cells.
Jungen Hu from Heidelberg University explained, “With bemnifosbuvir, we observed that the virus no longer replicated, while the treated cells remained healthy.”
Dr. Viet Loan Dao Thi and Professor Eike Steinmann noted, “If ongoing clinical trials for hepatitis C prove successful, bemnifosbuvir could soon be available for off-label use against hepatitis E.”
Animal studies also confirmed the drug’s potential, demonstrating reductions in both liver inflammation and viral activity, offering a hopeful new avenue for combating this widespread viral infection.
