Efficacy of new therapies

Hepatitis D virus causes chronic hepatitis D. The virus is defective, meaning it requires simultaneous presence of hepatitis B virus within the hepatocytes to complete its viral cycle. Globally, 15 to 20 millions people are estimated to be chronically co-infected by hepatitis B and D viruses. Current therapy remains limited to pegylated interferon alfa, which has an unsatisfactory success rate, several contraindications and many side effects. Drugs directly targeting the hepatitis D virus life cycle are being developed with promising results. These drugs target viral entry into hepatocytes, virion assembly or secretion from infected hepatocytes. This article provides an overview of the newly developed therapies and their efficacy.