Strategies to Inhibit Hepatitis B Virus at the Transcript Level

Approximately 240 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), despite four decades of effective HBV vaccination. During chronic infection, forms two distinct templates responsible for viral transcription: (1) episomal covalently closed circular (ccc)DNA and (2) host genome-integrated templates. Multiple ubiquitous liver-specific transcription factors recruited onto these modulate gene transcription. This review details the latest developments in antivirals that inhibit or destabilize transcripts. Notably, nuclear receptor agonists exhibit potent inhibition from cccDNA. Small molecule inhibitors repress X protein-mediated cccDNA, while small interfering RNAs single-stranded oligonucleotides result transcript degradation both cccDNA integrated These mediate their effects by reducing transcripts abundance, some leading to a loss surface antigen expression, they can potentially be added arsenal drugs demonstrable anti-HBV activity. Thus, candidates deserve special attention future repurposing further development as therapeutics.