Hepatitis E - Infectious Disease

Overview of Hepatitis E

Hepatitis E is a self-limiting fast acting condition in a majority of people, however pregnant women are at a higher risk as it can lead to severe health complications and even death. The virus is largely transmitted through an oral-fecal route especially when water supply is not well managed. In nations where contamination is not rampant, f however, the prominent means of infection has shifted to zoonotic transmission through the intake of undercooked meat, specifically pork.

Fig.1 Genetic organization and translation of hepatitis E virus. (Nimgaonkar, I., et al., 2018)

Vaccine Development for Hepatitis E

Hecolin: The Birth of a New Vaccine

The first Recombinant Protein vaccine which is currently the only vaccine for HEV that has been Approved by a Chinese regulatory body is called Hecolin. It has been reported to possess an ORF2 lower marine cap fusion protein. According to clinical evaluations, rulocale showed and maintained a 100% efficacy against genotype 1 HEV after triadic dosage. Most importantly, Hecoline has disclosed efficacy against Genotype Quarnag.

Currently, Hecolin isn't accessible outside of China, which limits its potential in the global market. Its safety and effectiveness are still under investigation, especially in high-risk groups such as pregnant women.

rHEV Vaccine: A Promising Candidate

Yet another impressive addition is the rHEV vaccine that incorporates reused subunit technology, in which amino acids from the capsid protein (ORF2) are added. It had potential during phase II trials, but the lack of advancement is due to the hefty price tag associated with development. Even with significant potential for broad public health benefits, the rampant and deep-seated issues in vaccine development hinder the progress of many beneficial products because of feasible finance being a pillar for advancement.

Therapeutics Development for Hepatitis E

Ribavirin

For as long as we can remember, ribavirin has been the go-to medication whenever we needed to treat nonpregnant individuals with chronic Hepatitis E. Regretfully, ribavirin is still not safe for pregnant women and therefore, is contraindicated during pregnancy. Aside from these concerns, ribavirin poses a great asset with its mechanism of targeting and inhibiting the proliferation of viral RNA, actively decreasing the number of viruses present in the infected body.

Sofosbuvir

Sofosbuvir was manufactured to treat Hepatitis C, however, it does possess the ability to prevent the replication of the Hepatitis E virus in vitro, making it a promising contender. This implies that there still needs to be more clinical trials to confirm its effectiveness but this lead does suggest hope for genotype 3 HEV chronic patients.

Pegylated Interferon

Alters in responses are known to occur with the utilization of pegylated interferon thus using systemic approach is a must. With that being said, pegylated interferon has been tested for usage with Hepatitis E and while modern methodologies haven’t been adopted as thoroughly, the results are unremarkable.

Our Services

Our company's commitment to combating Hepatitis E extends beyond vaccine and therapy development. We offer a comprehensive suite of services that include:

Molecular Biology and Virology: Cutting-edge molecular biology is utilized for detailed analysis of the viral structure and for the design of vaccines and therapeutics.

Immunology: The specific immune responses generated by HEV infection are studied to formulate vaccines capable of producing robust and durable immune responses.

Pharmacology and Toxicology: We perform extensive safety and efficacy tests on new potential drug candidates.

With our comprehensive suite of services, we are at the forefront of these efforts, committed to delivering professional solutions. As research progresses, the goal of eradicating Hepatitis E inches closer to reality. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.

References

Nimgaonkar, Ila, et al. "Hepatitis E virus: advances and challenges." Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology 15.2 (2018): 96-110.
Petrik, Juraj, et al. "Hepatitis e." Vox Sang 110.1 (2016): 93-130.

All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.

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