- In two phase 3 clinical trials, roughly one in five adults with chronic hepatitis B achieved sustained loss of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and undetectable hepatitis B viral DNA after completing a finite course of bepirovirsen treatment.
- Bepirovirsen reduces HBsAg production, aiming to restore the immune system’s ability to control the infection rather than simply suppressing viral replication.
- Participants with lower baseline HBsAg levels experienced higher functional cure rates, suggesting patient selection may play an important role in treatment success.
- While the results represent promising steps toward a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B, further research is necessary to improve response rates, evaluate long-term durability, and determine how the therapy performs in broader patient populations.
Chronic hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver and remains a
Current first-line treatment will typically involve antiviral therapy to suppress viral replication. However, these drugs rarely eliminate hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), which is a key marker of persistent infection. Thus, many individuals
As a result, researchers have increasingly focused on therapies capable of achieving a functional cure, defined as sustained loss of HBsAg and undetectable HBV DNA after treatment has ended.
Now, results from two large phase 3 clinical trials indicate that the investigational drug bepirovirsen could mark a significant step toward a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B, offering hope beyond lifelong antiviral treatment for some patients.
The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that approximately 20% of eligible patients achieved a sustained functional cure after completing a finite course of treatment, an outcome not observed in those receiving a placebo.
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Health & Wellness Editorial Team
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