Simvastatin potentiates the anti-hepatitis B virus activity of FDA-approved nucleoside analogue inhibitors in vitro

Statins are 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. We report that a particular statin, simvastatin (SIM), exhibits strong in vitro anti-HBV activity. Moreover, a combination of SIM with each of the individual nucleos(t)ide analogues lamivudine (LMV), adefovir (ADV), tenofovir (TEN) and entecavir (ETV), showed synergistic antiviral activity. Combination drug treatments were performed in the HepG2.2.15 cell line. Compound combinations were centered on a mixture designed to deliver approximately equipotent (not necessarily equimolar) concentrations of each agent, based on the ninety percent viral inhibition monotherapy values. SIM interacted favorably with all four licensed anti-HBV nucleos(t)ide analogues, especially at molar ratios that approximate combinations likely to be used clinically. As the relative concentration of SIM was raised to an excess, the overall favorability of the interactions progressively increased. SIM displayed about equal degrees of synergy with ADV and TDF. The highest degree of synergy was observed at the 300:1 combination of SIM with ETV. Interactions with LMV were the least favorable. The in vitro potential shown here may greatly augment anti-HBV therapy clinically. Published by Elsevier B.V.