Experimental hepatitis B drug may offer ‘functional cure’ for some patients
Summary
A new experimental drug called bepirovirsen shows promise in providing a "functional cure" for some hepatitis B patients by reducing the virus to very low levels. In clinical trials, about 20% of patients given this drug were able to stop treatment without the virus returning, which is a first in hepatitis B care.Key Facts
- Hepatitis B is a liver infection that can become chronic and cause serious liver damage or cancer.
- Current treatments require patients to take pills for life to keep the virus under control.
- Bepirovirsen (nicknamed "bepi") is an experimental drug developed by GSK and Ionis Pharmaceuticals.
- The drug works by blocking the virus’s genetic parts and a key surface protein, while also boosting the immune system.
- Two large international studies involved 1,838 patients using weekly bepi shots along with regular pills for six months.
- About 1 in 5 patients on bepi achieved a "functional cure," meaning the virus stayed undetectable for at least six months after stopping all treatment.
- None of the patients who received placebo shots (dummy shots) reached this level of virus control.
- The drug is under fast-track review by the U.S. FDA, with a decision expected in October, and regulators in Japan, China, and Europe are also considering it.
- Early follow-up showed that most patients with a functional cure remain well for up to three years, but more research is needed to understand how long the effect lasts.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.