It would be very interesting to hear any @ScienceExperts (or anyone else’s who may happen to have an understanding) opinion on this:
It seems particularly curious because it’s already in human trials for cancer, and it appears effective in vitro in nanomolar concentrations against HBV
HI @bob,
This is quite interesting from a basic science level (it adds depth to our understanding of HBx transcriptional regulation). However, I’m quite skeptical about its potential as an HBV therapy. Although the compound had no effect on cell viability in the short term studies they performed with cultured cells, the compound is a chemotherapeutic that acts to kill dividing cells by interfering with nucleosome assembly on DNA. That is guaranteed to be very toxic in people (that’s the entire point of a chemotherapeutic). In short, unless there is a way to focus its effects onto HBV+ cells, it will be much too dangerous to use in people for the extended treatment durations that will be needed to clear HBV.
In general, it is best to be highly suspect of repurposing chemotherapteutics. The safety bar for them is to kill the patient more slowly than the cancer that is being treated would. Just being in the clinic for cancer treatment in no way indicates acceptable toxicity for other uses.
John.
Thanks Bob, this is the same study as mentioned in a separate thread I think - Breakthrough discovery unveils potential treatment for hepatitis B
Thanks for pointing that out. Now that I’ve read the original article more closely it’s super interesting
I do wonder, if hypothetically this did turn out to be the one thing that worked in real life as it is in the lab, whether it could be the final answer or if it’s just too damaging in any case. I guess that’s what’s currently being studied among other things. The low concentrations required seem to make this stand out