Preclinical studies on Myrcludex B, a novel Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-envelope protein derived entry inhibitor

The approved treatment options for chronic hepatitis B consist either of inhibition of HBV genome replication by nucleoside or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors or stimulation of innate or adaptive immune responses e.g. by interferon α. However, although these drugs can reduce the HBV serum titers significantly, an elimination of the virus is commonly not achieved. Furthermore, virus replication in the presence of RT inhibitors can result in the selection and amplification of resistant mutants. Inhibitors of the HBV entry could circumvent these limitations and therefore would be promising drug…