Future therapy for hepatitis B virus infection.
We can now control hepatitis B virus infection by continuously administering nucleoside and nucleotide analogues such as entecavir and tenofovir. These drugs are generally safe and sufficiently effective, but future drugs are needed that can show off-treatment efficacy--in other words, eradication of latent hepatitis B virus DNA (covalently closed circular DNA) in the hepatocytes. This article is an overview of new drugs under development and some novel strategies to inhibit hepatitis B virus proliferation.
Aiseikai Yamashina Hospital, Kyoto, Japan, minami@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp.
Masahito
M
Minami
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000032:analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009705:Nucleosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004270:DNA, Circular; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D009705:Nucleosides; D009711:Nucleotides