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Broad neutralization of hepatitis C virus-resistant variants by Civacir hepatitis C immunoglobulin

Tawar, Rajiv G.; Heydmann, Laura; Bach, Charlotte; Sch�ttrumpf, J�rg; Chavan, Shailesh; King, Barnabas J.; McClure, C. Patrick; Ball, Jonathan K.; Pessaux, Patrick; Habersetzer, Fran�ois; Bartenschlager, Ralf; Zeisel, Mirjam B.; Baumert, Thomas

Authors

Rajiv G. Tawar

Laura Heydmann

Charlotte Bach

J�rg Sch�ttrumpf

Shailesh Chavan

Barnabas J. King

C. Patrick McClure

JONATHAN BALL jonathan.ball@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Molecular Virology

Patrick Pessaux

Fran�ois Habersetzer

Ralf Bartenschlager

Mirjam B. Zeisel

Thomas Baumert



Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced end-stage liver disease is the major indication for liver transplantation (LT). However, reinfection of the liver graft is still common, especially in patients with detectable viral load at the time of LT. Limited data are available on direct-acting antivirals in the transplant setting for prevention of graft infection. The human hepatitis C immunoglobulin (HCIG) Civacir is an investigational drug that is currently being developed in an ongoing phase 3 clinical trial assessing its safety and efficacy at preventing HCV recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) in the United States. Using well-characterized patient-derived HCV variants selected during LT, we studied the molecular mechanism of action of Civacir. Inhibition of HCV infection was studied using infectious HCV models including HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp) and cell culture-derived HCV (HCVcc) containing patient-derived viral envelope glycoproteins from 22 HCV variants isolated from patients before and after LT. The human hepatitis C immune globulin Civacir is an investigational drug that is currently being developed in an ongoing phase 3 clinical trial assessing safety and efficacy to prevent HCV recurrence after LT in the United States. Using well-characterized patient-derived HCV variants selected during LT, we studied the molecular mechanism of action of Civacir. Inhibition of HCV infection was studied using infectious HCV models including HCV pseudoparticles and cell culture-derived HCV containing patient-derived viral envelope glycoproteins from 22 HCV variants isolated from patients before and after liver transplantation. Additionally, we studied neutralization of different HCV genotypes and of direct-acting antiviral-resistant viruses. Our results indicate that Civacir potently, broadly, and dose-dependently neutralizes all tested patient variants in HCV pseudoparticles and cell culture-derived HCV assays including variants displaying resistance to host neutralizing antibodies and antiviral monoclonal antibodies. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations were independent of the phenotype of the viral variant, indicating that virus neutralization by Civacir is not affected by viral selection. Furthermore, Civacir is equally active against tested direct-acting antiviral-resistant HCV isolates in cell culture. Conclusion: Collectively, these results demonstrate broad neutralizing activity of Civacir against resistant viruses, likely due to synergy between anti-HCV antibodies derived from different plasma donors, and support its further clinical development for prevention of liver graft infection.

Citation

Tawar, R. G., Heydmann, L., Bach, C., Schüttrumpf, J., Chavan, S., King, B. J., …Baumert, T. (2016). Broad neutralization of hepatitis C virus-resistant variants by Civacir hepatitis C immunoglobulin. Hepatology, 64(5), 1495-1506. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.28767

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 19, 2016
Online Publication Date Sep 30, 2016
Publication Date 2016-11
Deposit Date May 8, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Hepatology
Print ISSN 0270-9139
Electronic ISSN 1527-3350
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 64
Issue 5
Pages 1495-1506
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.28767
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/825971
Publisher URL http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hep.28767/abstract