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Antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infections: the past, the present and the future
Author(s) -
Férir Geoffrey,
Kaptein Suzanne,
Neyts Johan,
De Clercq Erik
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
reviews in medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.06
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1654
pISSN - 1052-9276
DOI - 10.1002/rmv.554
Subject(s) - entecavir , lamivudine , adefovir , telbivudine , medicine , virology , chronic hepatitis , hepatitis b virus , virus , hepatitis b , antiviral drug , immunology
A decade ago, standard therapy against chronic hepatitis B virus infections only consisted of lamivudine or IFN‐α. Treatment with lamivudine and IFN has been compounded by, respectively, the emergence of drug‐resistant virus strains and the appearance of serious side effects. In the last 10 years, hepatitis B treatment has made much progress. Several treatments are now licensed for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B and others are under development. Here, we provide an overview of the potential and mode of action of anti‐HBV agents that are currently available, and/or may become available in the near future. Foremost among these newer compounds are adefovir dipivoxil, entecavir and telbivudine. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.