Drug repurposing screen identifies vidofludimus calcium and pyrazofurin as novel chemical entities for the development of hepatitis E interventions

Hongbo Guo; Dan Liu; Kuan Liu; Yao Hou; Chunyang Li; Qiudi Li; Xiaohui Ding; Monique M. A. Verstegen; Jikai Zhang; Lingli Wang; Yibo Ding; Renxian Tang; Xiucheng Pan; Kuiyang Zheng; Luc J. W. van der Laan; Qiuwei Pan; Wenshi Wang

doi:10.1016/j.virs.2023.11.006

February 2024

Citation: Hongbo Guo, Dan Liu, Kuan Liu, Yao Hou, Chunyang Li, Qiudi Li, Xiaohui Ding, Monique M. A. Verstegen, Jikai Zhang, Lingli Wang, Yibo Ding, Renxian Tang, Xiucheng Pan, Kuiyang Zheng, Luc J. W. van der Laan, Qiuwei Pan, Wenshi Wang. Drug repurposing screen identifies vidofludimus calcium and pyrazofurin as novel chemical entities for the development of hepatitis E interventions .VIROLOGICA SINICA, 2024, 39(1) : 123-133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virs.2023.11.006

Drug repurposing screen identifies vidofludimus calcium and pyrazofurin as novel chemical entities for the development of hepatitis E interventions

Hongbo Guo ^{a
,,} ,
Dan Liu ^a ,
Kuan Liu ^b,c ,
Yao Hou ^a ,
Chunyang Li ^a ,
Qiudi Li ^a ,
Xiaohui Ding ^a ,
Monique M. A. Verstegen ^c ,
Jikai Zhang ^a ,
Lingli Wang ^a ,
Yibo Ding ^a ,
Renxian Tang ^a ,
Xiucheng Pan ^d ,
Kuiyang Zheng ^a ,
Luc J. W. van der Laan ^c ,
Qiuwei Pan ^{b
,,} ,
Wenshi Wang ^{a
,,}

a. Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, China;
b. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, NL-3015 CN, the Netherlands;
c. Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, 3015CE, NL-3015 CN, the Netherlands;
d. Department of Infectious Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221002, China

Corresponding author: Hongbo Guo, hongbo.guo@xzhmu.edu.cn
Qiuwei Pan, q.pan@erasmusmc.nl
Wenshi Wang, wenshi.wang@xzhmu.edu.cn
Received Date: 05 August 2023
Accepted Date: 16 November 2023
Available online: 19 November 2023

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection can cause severe complications and high mortality, particularly in pregnant women, organ transplant recipients, individuals with pre-existing liver disease and immunosuppressed patients. However, there are still unmet needs for treating chronic HEV infections. Herein, we screened a best-in-class drug repurposing library consisting of 262 drugs/compounds. Upon screening, we identified vidofludimus calcium and pyrazofurin as novel anti-HEV entities. Vidofludimus calcium is the next-generation dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitor in the phase 3 pipeline to treat autoimmune diseases or SARS-CoV-2 infection. Pyrazofurin selectively targets uridine monophosphate synthetase (UMPS). Their anti-HEV effects were further investigated in a range of cell culture models and human liver organoids models with wild type HEV strains and ribavirin treatment failure-associated HEV strains. Encouragingly, both drugs exhibited a sizeable therapeutic window against HEV. For instance, the IC₅₀ value of vidofludimus calcium is 4.6–7.6-fold lower than the current therapeutic doses in patients. Mechanistically, their anti-HEV mode of action depends on the blockage of pyrimidine synthesis. Notably, two drugs robustly inhibited ribavirin treatment failure-associated HEV mutants (Y1320H, G1634R). Their combination with IFN-α resulted in synergistic antiviral activity. In conclusion, we identified vidofludimus calcium and pyrazofurin as potent candidates for the treatment of HEV infections. Based on their antiviral potency, and also the favorable safety profile identified in clinical studies, our study supports the initiation of clinical studies to repurpose these drugs for treating chronic hepatitis E.
- Hepatitis E virus (HEV)
- , Drug repurposing
- , Vidofludimus calcium
- , Pyrazofurin
- , Pyrimidine biosynthesis

Electronic Supplementary Material

10.1016j.virs.2023.11.006-ESM.docx
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