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Towards HBV curative therapies

Raymond F Schinazi1, Maryam Ehteshami1, Leda Bassit1

  • 1Center for AIDS Research, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Liver International : Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver
|February 11, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Current hepatitis B virus (HBV) treatments cannot eliminate the virus. New strategies focus on silencing or eliminating cccDNA to cure HBV infection, with clinical data expected within five years.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health concern, often leading to hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • Current antiviral therapies, including interferons and small molecules, control but do not eliminate HBV.
  • Significant challenges remain in eradicating HBV from infected cells, particularly the persistent cccDNA form.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current treatments for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
  • To examine novel therapeutic strategies aimed at silencing or eliminating HBV cccDNA for a potential cure.
  • To highlight emerging preclinical and clinical approaches for HBV eradication.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on HBV antiviral agents and therapies.
  • Analysis of recent advancements in HBV therapeutic strategies, including gene-editing and immunological approaches.
  • Examination of ongoing preclinical and clinical trials for novel HBV treatments.

Main Results:

  • Existing treatments effectively control HBV but do not achieve viral elimination.
  • Emerging strategies like capsid effectors, CRISPR/Cas9, TALENs, siRNA, and immunological approaches show promise for cccDNA targeting.
  • Combination therapies are likely necessary for successful HBV elimination and prevention of viral rebound.

Conclusions:

  • Eliminating HBV cccDNA is the key to achieving a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B.
  • A combination of novel therapeutic modalities will likely be required for effective HBV eradication.
  • Clinical data within the next five years will be crucial for assessing the safety and feasibility of these new approaches globally.
Keywords:
HBV cureantiviral agentscccDNAimmunotherapy

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