Chronic Hepatitis B Infection: New Approaches towards Cure

• Published in: Biomolecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 13; no. 8; p. 1208
• Main Authors: Ogunnaike, Mojisola, Das, Srijanee, Raut, Samiksha S, Sultana, Ashrafi, Nayan, Mohammad Ullah, Ganesan, Murali, Edagwa, Benson J, Osna, Natalia A, Poluektova, Larisa Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.08.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Antiviral agents; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; antivirals; chronic hepatitis B; Chronic illnesses; Chronic infection; Circular DNA; Cirrhosis; DNA, Viral - genetics; Drug targeting; Drug therapy; FDA approval; gene editing; Genome editing; Genomes; Hepatitis B; hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B, Chronic - drug therapy; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Hepatocytes; Humans; Life cycles; Liver Neoplasms; Methods; Mortality; Nucleotides; Prevention; Replication; Review; United States; United States > US; chronic hepatitis B; antivirals; gene editing; hepatitis B virus
• ISSN: 2218-273X; 2218-273X
• DOI: 10.3390/biom13081208

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection leads to the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Lifelong treatment with nucleotides/nucleoside antiviral agents is effective at suppressing HBV replication, however, adherence to daily therapy can be challenging. This review discusses recent advances in the development of long-acting formulations for HBV treatment and prevention, which could potentially improve adherence. Promising new compounds that target distinct steps of the virus life cycle are summarized. In addition to treatments that suppress viral replication, curative strategies are focused on the elimination of covalently closed circular DNA and the inactivation of the integrated viral DNA from infected hepatocytes. We highlight promising long-acting antivirals and genome editing strategies for the elimination or deactivation of persistent viral DNA products in development.