Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 2, 2025

A Competent Hepatocyte Model Examining Hepatitis B Virus Entry through Sodium Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide as a Therapeutic Target
Published on: May 10, 2022
Safety of current antiviral drugs for chronic hepatitis B
Chiara Masetti1, Nicola Pugliese1,2, Alessio Aghemo1,2
1Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano (MI), Italy.
Introduction:
Oral nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs) are recommended as first-line therapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) due to higher HBV-DNA suppression rates and safety profile. Long-term treatment with NUCs is often necessary to achieve durable viral suppression.
Areas Covered:
This review provides an overview of the long-term safety data that have become available since entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) were first approved, and recent data on tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) in patients with CHB.
Expert Opinion:
NUCs generally show remarkable safety in patients taking them for long periods. Nevertheless, renal and bone toxicity may occur in a minority of patients on TDF therapy. These effects have been overcome by the recent release of TAF. Moreover, the currently available data do not allow firm conclusions on the superiority of TDF on ETV about hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk reduction. Observational studies involving more homogeneous cohorts are therefore needed; furthermore, long-term studies assessing the impact of TAF on this important topic are warranted.
Related Concept Videos
Retrovirus Life Cycles
Viruses with RNA Genomes
Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers
Class 1A Antiarrhythmic Drugs: These drugs work by moderately blocking sodium channels,...
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Retroviruses

