GDCh-Vortrag: Prof. Dr. Stephan Urban, Universität Heidelberg: Disovery and Development of the first Drug for Chronic Hepatitis D

Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis D Virus (HDV) infections require the interaction of envelope proteins with the hepatocyte specific receptor sodium tauro-cholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP).
Chemically synthesized lipopeptides, representing the receptor binding domain RBD, are suggested to be potent inhibitors of viral entry which finally led to the discovery of the first approved entry inhibitor for HBV/HDV infections (bulevirtide/ Hepcludex). The peptidic lead substance entered into clinical trials, and showed fundamentally different pharmacological behaviour from other therapeutically applied peptides.

The development of bulevirtide was an untypical enterprise, not only regarding its identification as an optimized 'fragment' of an 'endogenous' viral structure, but also regarding its unusual properties as a stable and highly efficient peptidic drug.

Its approval in the European Union in 2020 and its successful application to HDV/ HBV co -infected patients raises justified hope to become part of a curative regimen in the future.