Novel Antivirals in Clinical Development for Chronic Hepatitis B Infection
Globally, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection is one of the leading causes of liver failure, decompensated cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Existing antiviral therapy can suppress viral replication but not fully eradicate the virus nor the risk of liver-related complications. Novel treatment...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/6/1169 |
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| author | Lung-Yi Mak Wai-Kay Seto Man-Fung Yuen |
| author_facet | Lung-Yi Mak Wai-Kay Seto Man-Fung Yuen |
| author_sort | Lung-Yi Mak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Globally, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection is one of the leading causes of liver failure, decompensated cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Existing antiviral therapy can suppress viral replication but not fully eradicate the virus nor the risk of liver-related complications. Novel treatments targeting alternative steps of the viral cycle or to intensify/restore the host’s immunity are being developed. We discuss novel drugs that have already entered clinical phases of development. Agents that interfere with specific steps of HBV replication include RNA interference, core protein allosteric modulation, and inhibition of viral entry or viral protein excretion (NAPs and STOPS). Agents that target the host’s immunity include toll-like receptor agonists, therapeutic vaccines, immune checkpoint modulators, soluble T-cell receptors, and monoclonal antibodies. Most have demonstrated favorable results in suppression of viral proteins and genomic materials (i.e., HBV DNA and/or pre-genomic RNA), and/or evidence on host-immunity restoration including cytokine responses and T-cell activation. Given the abundant clinical experience and real-world safety data with the currently existing therapy, any novel agent for CHB should be accompanied by convincing safety data. Combination therapy of nucleos(t)ide analogue, a novel virus-directing agent, and/or an immunomodulatory agent will be the likely approach to optimize the chance of a functional cure in CHB. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:17:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f5e7555991654362980a8217cae0dcf8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:17:07Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-f5e7555991654362980a8217cae0dcf82023-11-22T00:47:39ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152021-06-01136116910.3390/v13061169Novel Antivirals in Clinical Development for Chronic Hepatitis B InfectionLung-Yi Mak0Wai-Kay Seto1Man-Fung Yuen2Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road 102, Hong Kong, ChinaDepartment of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road 102, Hong Kong, ChinaDepartment of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road 102, Hong Kong, ChinaGlobally, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection is one of the leading causes of liver failure, decompensated cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Existing antiviral therapy can suppress viral replication but not fully eradicate the virus nor the risk of liver-related complications. Novel treatments targeting alternative steps of the viral cycle or to intensify/restore the host’s immunity are being developed. We discuss novel drugs that have already entered clinical phases of development. Agents that interfere with specific steps of HBV replication include RNA interference, core protein allosteric modulation, and inhibition of viral entry or viral protein excretion (NAPs and STOPS). Agents that target the host’s immunity include toll-like receptor agonists, therapeutic vaccines, immune checkpoint modulators, soluble T-cell receptors, and monoclonal antibodies. Most have demonstrated favorable results in suppression of viral proteins and genomic materials (i.e., HBV DNA and/or pre-genomic RNA), and/or evidence on host-immunity restoration including cytokine responses and T-cell activation. Given the abundant clinical experience and real-world safety data with the currently existing therapy, any novel agent for CHB should be accompanied by convincing safety data. Combination therapy of nucleos(t)ide analogue, a novel virus-directing agent, and/or an immunomodulatory agent will be the likely approach to optimize the chance of a functional cure in CHB.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/6/1169functional cureCpAMsgene silencingantiviral therapyimmunomodulationSTOPS |
| spellingShingle | Lung-Yi Mak Wai-Kay Seto Man-Fung Yuen Novel Antivirals in Clinical Development for Chronic Hepatitis B Infection Viruses functional cure CpAMs gene silencing antiviral therapy immunomodulation STOPS |
| title | Novel Antivirals in Clinical Development for Chronic Hepatitis B Infection |
| title_full | Novel Antivirals in Clinical Development for Chronic Hepatitis B Infection |
| title_fullStr | Novel Antivirals in Clinical Development for Chronic Hepatitis B Infection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Novel Antivirals in Clinical Development for Chronic Hepatitis B Infection |
| title_short | Novel Antivirals in Clinical Development for Chronic Hepatitis B Infection |
| title_sort | novel antivirals in clinical development for chronic hepatitis b infection |
| topic | functional cure CpAMs gene silencing antiviral therapy immunomodulation STOPS |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/6/1169 |
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