4-Methylumbelliferone as a Treatment for Chronic HBV/HCV
4-Methylumbelliferone as a Treatment for Chronic HBV/HCV
Open-label studies, anecdotal reports, and in vitro scientific research indicate that
 4-methylumbelliferone (active ingredient of the dietary supplement Heparvit®) may prevent and
 reverse the symptoms and complications of chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV)and
 hepatitis C virus (HCV). This effect has been observed among naïve patients as well as those
 who are non-responders to interferon, commonly used as first-line therapy for HBV and HCV. In
 order to scientifically address the efficacy of this 4-methylumbelliferone on chronic viral
 hepatitis, a randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded study is needed.

 It is hypothesized that 4-methylumbelliferone may reduce the impact and aggressiveness of HBV
 and HCV upon the liver, thereby slowing the progression to potentially life threatening liver
 diseases such as cancer and cirrhosis. This is a preliminary study designed to determine any
 indications under controlled conditions that may warrant further detailed clinical studies.
(i). Chronic hepatitis B

 Chronicity of HBV following acute infection is strongly age-related; the majority (90%) of
 infants acquiring HBV perinatally go on to develop chronic infection, while most persons who
 acquire HBV later in life resolve their infection [ref 1]. Patients with chronic HBV have a
 15-25% lifetime risk of liver cirrhosis and hepatic cancer. An estimated 5,000 people die
 each year from complications of chronic HBV infection (cirrhosis and hepatocellular
 carcinoma).

 Three drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of
 chronic HBV: interferon-α (IFN-α), lamivudine, and adefovir dipivoxil. Only one-third of
 chronic HBV patients develop a sustained response to IFN-α treatment, and adverse effects are
 common [ref 2]. Use of the newer orally-administered nucleoside analogues (lamivudine or
 adefovir dipivoxil) typically causes rapid initial clearance of virus and is associated with
 fewer adverse effects; however, seroconversion rates are low, and long-term therapy with
 lamivudine (required for sustained responses) frequently results in resistance [ref 2].
 Adefovir dipivoxil has, so far, not shown the high rate of resistance observed with
 lamivudine, but it is expected that resistance will eventually develop [ref 3]. In summary,
 major problems with currently approved therapy of HBV include expense, toxicity, and
 development of resistance.

 (ii). Chronic hepatitis C

 Chronic viral hepatitis due to hepatitis C is an enormous medical problem, affecting
 approximately 170 million people worldwide (WHO) [ref 4]. In the U.S., an estimated 2.7
 million people suffer from chronic HCV, with 10,000-12,000 deaths per year attributable to
 the disease (ref 5). Chronic HCV infections in the U.S. are usually acquired through
 injectable drug use, sexual contact, or receipt of contaminated blood products (before
 antibody screening was initiated in 1990). Most persons exposed to HCV (75%) develop
 asymptomatic chronic infection. Eventually, 15%-20% will die of cirrhosis and liver cancer
 without intervention [ref 4].

 Only two drugs are licensed for treatment of chronic hepatitis C: IFN-α (standard or
 pegylated) and ribavirin. Sustained responses to IFN-α monotherapy have occurred in up to 35%
 of patients; higher responses can be observed with combination treatment (pegylated IFN-α and
 ribavirin) [ref 6,7]. Responses to combination therapy is closely linked with HCV genotype
 (types 2 and 3 most responsive). A significant number of patients relapse or do not respond
 to standard treatment, and retreatment is typically less effective than initial therapy [ref
 8].

 (iii). 4-methlyumbelliferone

 Umbelliferones (7-hydroxycoumarins) [ref 9] are substances present in many species of plants,
 especially umbelliferae, fabaceae, and oleaceae, which include such common plants as manna
 ash, sweet woodruff, German chamomile, celery, parsley, and others. In nature, umbelliferones
 help protect plants from cellular damage, infestation, trauma, and infection. Their
 7-hydroxycoumarin derivatives (4-methylumbelliferones) [ref 10] are used in liver therapy, as
 reagents, plant growth factors, sunscreens, choleretics, and spasmolytics. They are also used
 as light-protective agents, in the calibration of medical lasers, and in analytical chemistry
 for the quantitation of nitric acid.

 Products containing 4-methylumbelliferone as their active substance have been available in
 the USA and Europe since 1990, as dietary supplements (under trade names Heparvit®,
 Heparmed®, DetoxPro®). These products are promoted as supporting liver function and improving
 detoxification. In many parts of Europe, products containing 4-methylumbelliferone are also
 available as drugs, and used as spasmolytics and choleretics [ref 11] (improving liver
 detoxification systems through increased bile production).

 7-hydroxycoumarins are also natural metabolites in the body that play important roles in the
 metabolism of ethanol, chemotherapeutic drugs, acetaminophen, anabolic steroids, and other
 hepatotoxic drugs [ref 12]. Indeed, measurement of concentrations of 4-methylumbelliferyl
 glucuronide (a metabolic product of 4-methylumbelliferone) is a common assay for determining
 the level of toxicity of liver-toxic drugs [ref 13].

 The broad potential medical benefits of 4-methylumbelliferone as a hepatoprotectant,
 anti-inflammatory agent, chemotherapeutic agent, and antiviral substance have been described
 [ref 13,14]. More recent studies indicate that 4-methylumbelliferone (and other
 7-hydroxycoumarin derivatives) may be effective against Helicobacter pylori [ref 15], several
 types of cancer [ref 15-19], and Alzheimer's disease [ref 20].
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Serum ALT at least 1.5x the upper limit of normal

 -  For chronic HBV: Known positive serum HBeAg for at least 6 months; Presence of HBV DNA
 in serum

 -  For chronic HCV: Presence of anti-HCV in serum within 6 months of enrollment; Positive
 serum HCV RNA (enrollment)

 -  Written informed consent

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Treatment (within past 3 months) with interferon, ribavirin, lamivudine, entecavir, or
 adefovir dipivoxil

 -  Current treatment with any drug or dietary supplement that could affect serum
 transaminase values (e.g., milk thistle)

 -  Pregnancy or inability to practice contraception in patients capable of bearing or
 fathering children

 -  Decompensated liver disease (as indicated by total bilirubin >4 mg/dL; albumin <3
 g/dL; prolonged (>2 sec over control) prothrombin time; or history of bleeding
 esophageal varices, ascites or hepatic encephalopathy)

 -  Active alcohol use, drug abuse, and/or psychiatric problems that, in the
 investigator's opinion, could interfere with participation in the study

 -  Hepatitis D infection (for HBV-infected patients)