Hepatitis E affects over 20 million people worldwide. It clears up without any consequences in most cases, but it can pose a risk to pregnant women and immunocompromised patients. There are no specific active substances against the virus.

Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum and Hannover Medical School have closely monitored the evolution of the virus in two chronic patients undergoing combination therapy with the antiviral agent ribavirin and sofosbuvir, which was developed to combat hepatitis C.