Hepatitisforschung
© Kurt Bauer

Hepatitis

DZIF scientists aim to improve the prevention and treatment of viral hepatitis—with the ultimate goal of finding a cure.

Worldwide, more than 400 million people are infected with hepatitis B, C and/or D viruses (HBV, HCV, HDV). Chronic infections often remain silent for decades but damage the liver—causing liver cirrhosis and cancer. More than 1.4 million people die of viral hepatitis each year and the number of cases is still on an upward trend. The public health threat of viral hepatitis has long been underestimated. Just recently in the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for international action to combat viral hepatitis, with the aim of drastically reducing the disease burden by 2030.

Some forms of viral hepatitis can be prevented or treated, and HCV infection can even be cured. However, some important elements are still needed in order to reach the WHO's ambitious goal. The goal will most likely only be achieved if a prophylactic vaccine for hepatitis C and curative therapies for hepatitis B and D become available. It has not yet been fully understood how hepatitis E is transmitted through meat consumption. The research area “Hepatitis” at the DZIF addresses all these points and some promising approaches are already on the path towards clinical application.

Examples of successful translation in the DZIF research area Hepatitis are TherVacB—a therapeutic vaccine against hepatitis B—and Hepcludex as the first approved drug against hepatitis D.

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