Chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) occurs in approximately 6% of the world's population and carriers of the virus are at risk for complicating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis. Although effective vaccination is available, it is prophylactic and of little use to individuals who are already infected with the virus. Furthermore, current treatment options have limited efficacy and chronic HBV infection is likely to be a significant global medical problem for many years to come.
Silencing HBV gene expression by harnessing
RNA interference (RNAi) presents an attractive option for development of novel and effective anti HBV agents. Numerous studies have reported highly successful suppression of viral replication, which bodes well for employing this approach to counter HBV infection. However, despite significant and rapid progress, further refinement of existing technologies is necessary before clinical application of RNAi-based HBV therapies is realised. Improvement of delivery efficiency, dose regulation, limiting of off target effects and preventing reactivation of viral replication are some of the hurdles that need to be overcome. Nevertheless, the vast potential of
RNAi-based therapeutics will continue to drive innovative research, and this promises to surmount the obstacles that face this exciting field.
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Labels: Anti HBV agents, HBV