[Is there hope for hepatitis delta ?]

Hepatitis D or delta is a chronic liver disease globally reaching 15‑20M people. Its agent, hepatitis D virus (HDV) requires the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) to complete its life cycle. It represents one of the most severe forms of viral hepatitis. Current therapy with pegylated interferon alpha leads to viral eradication only in 25 % of cases. New treatments targeting the virus life cycle are sought. For example Myrcludex-B, which inhibits the entry into hepatocytes, lonafarnib which prevents the assemblage of the viral particle and the molecule REP 2139 which, among other unclear mechanisms, impedes the exit of the virus. This allows considering a better management of a condition for which there is currently no satisfactory treatment.