title: Recent developments in antivirals against hepatitis B virus.
abstract: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (CHB) is a major cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although the availability of HBV vaccines effectively reduces the incidence of HBV infection, the healthcare burden from CHB remains high. Several antiviral agents, such as (pegylated-) interferon-α and nucleos(t)ide analogs are approved by US FDA for chronic HBV infection management. Entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) have been recommended as the first-line anti-HBV drugs for excellent viral suppression with a low risk of antiviral resistance, but the cost and need for essentially life-long treatment are considerable challenges. And none of these current treatments can eradicate the intracellular virus. Given these issues, there is still an unmet medical need for an efficient HBV cure. We summarize here the key developments of antivirals against hepatitis B virus, including HBV replication cycle inhibitors and host immune regulators.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zuchongzhi Road 555, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ya-Juan
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zuchongzhi Road 555, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: yangli@simm.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zuchongzhi Road 555, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: jpzuo@simm.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Jian-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zuo
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents
keywords: Antiviral therapy; Hepatitis B; Host immune regulators; Inhibitory drugs