Drexel University

Baruch S. Blumberg Institute

Hoffmann-la Roche Inc.

F. Hoffmann-la Roche Ag

Dawei Cai

Andrea Cuconati

Haitao Guo

Changhua Ji

Timothy Michael Block

Xiaodong Xu

Ju-Tao Guo

Huagang Lu

The present invention relates to methods and uses for screening anti-hepadnaviral substances, wherein the substances are screened for the capacity to inhibit covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA of a hepadnavirus, like hepatitis B virus. The methods and uses take advantage of cells comprising a nucleic sequence encoding a tagged hepadnavirus e antigen, like Hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg). Furthermore, the present invention provides nucleic acid sequences encoding a tagged hepadnavirus e antigen and proteins encoded thereby. Also kits for use in the screening methods are provided.

Tagged hepadnavirus E antigen and its use in screening antiviral substances

Tagged hepadnavirus e antigen and its use in screening antiviral substances

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention comprise covalently closed circular DNA formation inhibitors having a disease-modifying action in the treatment of diseases associated with the formation of covalently closed circular DNA that include hepatitis B infection, and any disease involving formation of covalently closed circular DNA.

Inhibitors of hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA formation and their method of use

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Dawei Cai