Entecavir: a potent antiviral with minimal long-term resistance in nucleoside-naive chronic hepatitis B patients.
Entecavir has demonstrated safety and efficacy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection. It is the prototype for the cyclopentane class of nucleoside/nucleotide chronic hepatitis B antiviral agents. It has a high potency and, due to its structural formula and mechanism of action, entecavir is associated with emergence of minimal resistance in the long-term treatment of nucleoside-naive patients. Research suggests that long-term treatment may be required for chronic hepatitis B patients, especially those who acquire HBV early in life, to achieve maximum viral suppression and improve outcomes. Several recent studies have evaluated the long-term safety, efficacy and development of resistance in nucleoside-naive patients treated with entecavir. Results indicate that the long-term use of entecavir is well tolerated and associated with continuous clinical improvement -- with an increasing number of patients achieving undetectable levels of HBV DNA, HBeAg seroconversion and minimal resistance. These data underscore the position of entecavir for first-line therapy and highlight its role in the long-term treatment of chronic hepatits B.
National Cheng Kung University, Medical College and Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC.
Pin-Nan
PN
Cheng
Ting-Tsung
TT
Chang
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine