Ezrin Peptide Therapy from HIV to COVID: Inhibition of Inflammation and Amplification of Adaptive Anti-Viral Immunity.

Human Ezrin Peptides (HEPs) are inhibitors of expression of IL-6 and other inflammatory cytokines, amplifiers of adaptive B cell and T cell immunity and enhancers of tissue repair. The mutation stable -terminus of HIV gp120, mimics 69% of the "Hep-receptor", a zipped α-helical structure in the middle of the α domain of human ezrin protein. Synthetic peptides homologous to the Hep-receptor of ezrin of five to fourteen amino acids, activate anti-viral immunity against a wide range of viruses (HIV, HCV, herpes, HPV, influenza and other human respiratory viruses).

Treatment of hepatitis C virus infection with human ezrin peptide one (HEP1) in HIV infected patients.

This report shows the therapeutic benefit of HEP1 (human ezrin peptide 324-337; TEKKRRETVEREKE) monotherapy of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in HIV infected patients in two clinical studies. In the Pilot Study I, 16 of 18 patients responded well to the treatment with significant reductions of HCV viral load and a normalization of serum liver enzymes. In 8 of 18 patients, HCV RNA became undetectable, and 3 of 8 interferon/ribavirin treatment failure patients showed undetectable HCV load following HEP1 treatment.

[Ani immunomodulator Hepon inhibits hepatitis C virus replication in human cell cultures in vitro].

Antiviral activity of immunomodulator "Hepon" was evaluated in human cells culture infected with hepatitis C virus. "Hepon" presence protected human cells SW-13 from cytopathogenic effect of hepatitis C virus. Maximum antiviral effect was demonstrated by "Hepon" at concentration 1 mcg/mL.