title: Emerging drugs for the treatment of hepatitis B.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nucleos(t)ide analogs and interferon-based compounds are currently approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Although these treatments are effective in suppressing viral replication, it is unable to completely eradicate the virus from the host. Therefore, CHB patients are at a life-long risk of developing complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Drugs targeting novel sites of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication cycle and the host immune response in development are discussed. As current available drugs only target a small segment of the HBV life cycle, the development of new agents targeting different sites is an important step in eradicating HBV. The host immunological response is also vital in viral clearance. Newer agents in development include immunomodulatory agents and therapeutic vaccines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For any chance of eradication, a combination of drugs targeting both the host factors and different sites of the viral life cycle will be required. Two key components to achieving this goal include the removal of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) together with restoration of the immune control against HBV.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR.|b State Key Laboratory for Liver Research , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR.|c Department of Medicine , Queen Mary Hospital , Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.affiliation: b State Key Laboratory for Liver Research , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR.|c Department of Medicine , Queen Mary Hospital , Hong Kong SAR.|d Department of Medicine , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Ching-Lung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: a Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR.|b State Key Laboratory for Liver Research , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR.|c Department of Medicine , Queen Mary Hospital , Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Wai-Kay
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Seto
authors.affiliation: b State Key Laboratory for Liver Research , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR.|c Department of Medicine , Queen Mary Hospital , Hong Kong SAR.|d Department of Medicine , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Man-Fung
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Yuen
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D015195:Drug Design; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
keywords: Capsid inhibitor; RNAi; TLR7 agonist; cccDNA; entry inhibitor; immunomodulator; novel therapy; nucleoside analog; nucleotide analog; polymerase inhibitor; therapeutic vaccine