# Data-Driven Mathematical and  Computational Modeling of Hepatitis D Infection and Treatment Response

> **NIH NIH R01** · LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO · 2021 · $700,217

## Abstract

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is an infectious subviral agent that can propagate in individuals
infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is the most severe form of chronic viral hepatitis in humans
and ~20 million people worldwide are estimated to be chronically infected. In the U.S., the
prevalence of chronic HDV infection is rising with recent data suggesting an urgent need for
screening and treatment. There is no FDA approved treatment for HDV with current therapy
consisting of pegylated interferon-alpha which only achieves cure in ~25% of patients. With limited
treatment data available, understanding the dynamics of HDV infection and treatment response
is in its infancy. The new prenylation inhibitor lonafarnib is the first direct acting anti-HDV agent
being tested clinically, but pegylated interferon-lambda, Nucleic acid polymers and HDV/HBV
entry inhibitor myrcludex B are also being investigated as anti-HDV therapies providing ongoing
opportunities characterize HDV treatment dynamics and the mechanism of action of HDV
antivirals and provide a window into the dynamics among HDV, HBV and host during co-infection.
To gain insights into HDV-HBV-host-drug dynamics we have established an interdisciplinary team
that includes clinicians who perform HDV treatment clinical trials, experimentalists to perform
treatment and HDV/HBV coinfection studies in humanized mouse models and mathematical
modelers to create mathematical/computational models to explain the patient and mouse data.
The long-term goal of this proposal is to determine the MOA of anti-HDV drugs and optimal use
of antiviral agents for the treatment of HDV.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10106570
- **Project number:** 5R01AI146917-02
- **Recipient organization:** LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Harel Dahari
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $700,217
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-02-15 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10106570

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10106570, Data-Driven Mathematical and  Computational Modeling of Hepatitis D Infection and Treatment Response (5R01AI146917-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10106570. Licensed CC0.

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