title: Phase IIb multicentred randomised trial of besifovir (LB80380) versus entecavir in Asian patients with chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Besifovir (LB80380) is an acyclic nucleotide phosphonate effective in hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA suppression for both treatment-naive and lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in preliminary studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We aimed to compare the safety and antiviral activity of two doses of besifovir (90 mg and 150 mg daily) with entecavir 0.5 mg daily in CHB patients. 114 patients were randomised to receive besifovir 90 mg daily (n=36), besifovir 150 mg daily (n=39) or entecavir 0.5 mg daily (n=39). HBV DNA and liver biochemistry, including serum L-carnitine levels, were monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At week 48, in the intention-to-treat population, the proportion of patients achieving undetectable HBV DNA (<20 IU/mL) were 63.6%, 62.9% and 58.3%, respectively (p>0.05). The serum mean log10 HBV DNA changes from baseline for the HBeAg-positive patients were -5.84, -5.91 and -6.18, respectively; and for the HBeAg-negative patients were -4.65, -4.55 and -4.67, respectively (p>0.05). There were no differences in the proportions of patients achieving normalisation of alanine aminotransferase (91.7%, 76.9%, 89.7%, respectively) and HBeAg seroconversion (11.11%, 15%, 9.52%, respectively) among all three groups. None of the patients had resistant mutations or increase in serum creatinine of >0.5 mg/dL from baseline. 64 (94.1%) patients on besifovir had lowering of serum L-carnitine (not tested in entecavir patients). L-carnitine levels returned to normal with carnitine supplement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At 48 weeks, 90 mg and 150 mg daily of besifovir were non-inferior to entecavir 0.5 mg daily in treatment-naive CHB patients. The only significant side effect of besifovir was L-carnitine depletion, requiring carnitine supplementation.
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors: Ching-Lung
authors: CL
authors: Lai
authors: Sang Hoon
authors: SH
authors: Ahn
authors: Kwan Sik
authors: KS
authors: Lee
authors: Soon Ho
authors: SH
authors: Um
authors: Mong
authors: M
authors: Cho
authors: Seung Kew
authors: SK
authors: Yoon
authors: Jin-Woo
authors: JW
authors: Lee
authors: Neung Hwa
authors: NH
authors: Park
authors: Young-Oh
authors: YO
authors: Kweon
authors: Joo Hyun
authors: JH
authors: Sohn
authors: Jiyoon
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Jeong-Ae
authors: JA
authors: Kim
authors: Kwang-Hyub
authors: KH
authors: Han
authors: Man-Fung
authors: MF
authors: Yuen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044466:Asian People; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006147:Guanine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C487369:((1-((2-amino-9H-purin-9-yl)methyl)cyclopropyl)oxy)methylphosphonic acid dipivoxyl; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D063065:Organophosphonates; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D002331:Carnitine
keywords: HEPATITIS B; LIVER