Telbivudine in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B

Authors: Hadziyannis, Stephanos J; Vassilopoulos, Dimitrios

Source: Expert Review of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Volume 2, Number 1, February 2008 , pp. 13-22(10)

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Abstract:

Treatment of chronic hepatitis B with oral nucleos(t)ide analogs is evolving rapidly with newer compounds gaining approval. Recently, the US FDA and European Medicines Agency (EMEA) have approved telbivudine, a potent anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific agent with a hitherto excellent safety profile. This review focuses on the efficacy of this agent in chronic hepatitis B compared with lamivudine, evaluated clinically in Phase II and a large Phase III study. Monitoring of the virologic response under treatment with sensitive HBV-DNA assays has been applied, aiming at increasing efficacy and reducing HBV resistance. The results are critically presented and the evolving concept of effective long-term telbivudine and other nucleos(t)ide analog therapy, predicted by the extent of suppression of HBV replication at week 24, are analyzed and discussed.

Keywords: chronic hepatitis B; HBV DNA; HBV resistance; lamivudine; LdT; predictors of response; telbivudine

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1586/17474124.2.1.13

Affiliations: 1: Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine and Hepatology, Henry Dunant Hospital, 107 Messogion Avenue, 115 26 Athens, Greece., Email: hadziyannis@ath.forthnet.gr

Publication date: 2008-02-01

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