Ciclopirox inhibits Hepatitis B Virus secretion by blocking capsid assembly.
Kang, J.A., Kim, S., Park, M., Park, H.J., Kim, J.H., Park, S., Hwang, J.R., Kim, Y.C., Jun Kim, Y., Cho, Y., Sun Jin, M., Park, S.G.(2019) Nat Commun 10: 2184-2184
- PubMed: 31097716 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-10200-5
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
6J10 - PubMed Abstract: 
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can cause cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and is therefore a serious public health problem. Infected patients are currently treated with nucleoside/nucleotide analogs and interferon α, but this approach is not curative. Here, we screen 978 FDA-approved compounds for their ability to inhibit HBV replication in HBV-expressing HepG2.2.15 cells. We find that ciclopirox, a synthetic antifungal agent, strongly inhibits HBV replication in cells and in mice by blocking HBV capsid assembly. The crystal structure of the HBV core protein and ciclopirox complex reveals a unique binding mode at dimer-dimer interfaces. Ciclopirox synergizes with nucleoside/nucleotide analogs to prevent HBV replication in cells and in a humanized liver mouse model. Therefore, orally-administered ciclopirox may provide a novel opportunity to combat chronic HBV infection by blocking HBV capsid assembly.
Organizational Affiliation: 
School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.