Georgetown University

The United States of America as Represented by the Department of Health

Other

University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc

John L Gerin

Brent E Korba

Chung K Chu

Bud Tennant

John L Casey

Paul J Cote

Robert H Purcell

Thomas C Merigan

Hilton B Levy

Dean H Hamer

William S Robinson

A method for the treatment for hepatitis delta infection in a host, that includes administering an effective amount of a nucleoside or a nucleoside analog that suppresses the expression of the hepatitis B surface or preS1 antigen in the host 100-fold or more relative to pretreatment values in vivo; or to not more than 1 microgram per milliliter in vivo. In a preferred embodiment, the nucleoside is L-FMAU, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof.

Method of treating hepatitis delta virus infection

Antisense oligonucleotides that hybridize to segments of the pres1, S, C, and &egr; regions of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA pregenome inhibit replication of the virus. Pharmaceutical compositions which contain these oligonucleotides as the active ingredients are effective against HBV infection.

Antisense ogligonucleotides against Hepatitis B viral replication

Antisense oligonucleotides that hybridize to segments of the preS1, S, C, and .epsilon. regions of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA pregenome inhibit replication of the virus. Pharmaceutical compositions which contain these oligonucleotides as the active ingredients are effective against HBV infection.

Antisense oligonucleotides against hepatitis B viral replication

A process for producing a recombinant between simian virus 40 (SV40) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) is given. When tissue culture cells are infected with the recombinant, hepatitis B surface antigen is produced. Because a single cloned gene is used, the surface antigen produced is homogeneous and can be produced without conventional dependence on human sera. The antigen is excreted into the culture medium as 22 nm particles with the same physical properties, antigenic composition and constituent polypeptides as those found in the sera of patients with Type B hepatitis. The antigen is useful for the preparation of vaccines.

Simian virus recombinant that directs the synthesis of hepatitis B

Interferon introduced parenterally in a human host or stimulated by an inducer (PICLC) for a period of greater than 21 days results in a major decrease in all markers of infectivity, such as DNA polymerase, and such markers remain at a depressed level during the period of treatment. Where PICLC is utilized to induce interferon in the host, a serum level of 50 units per milliliter or higher is necessary for effective clinical treatment and 17 .times. 10.sup.4 - 6.0 .times. 10.sup.3 U/kg/day is an effective dose for exogenous interferon. Especially long-term treatment with exogenous interferon of greater than 21 days and up to 14 months results in clinical improvement for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and this long-term treatment has resulted in sustained improvement even after cessation of treatment as well as resulting in a decrease in infectivity risk to others in close proximity to the infected human host. Such clinical improvement is marked by normalization of liver histology.

Modification of hepatitis B virus infection in chronic carriers of

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Bethesda, MD, United States of America

John L Gerin