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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 28, 2014; 20(24): 7707-7717
Published online Jun 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i24.7707
Emerging antivirals for the treatment of hepatitis B
Xue-Yan Wang, Hong-Song Chen
Xue-Yan Wang, Hong-Song Chen, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China
Xue-Yan Wang, Hong-Song Chen, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hepatitis C and Immunotherapy for Liver Diseases, Beijing 100044, China
Author contributions: Wang XY drafted and revised the manuscript; Chen HS revised the manuscript for intellectual content and gave final approval of the version to be published.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 31340023, No. 91029741, No. 81001072 and No. 81171550; National Key Sci-Tech Special Project of China, No. 2012ZX10002011-006; Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education, No. 20130001120075; and Peking University People’s Hospital Research and Development Funds, No. RDB2013-02
Correspondence to: Hong-Song Chen, MD, PhD, Professor, Peking University Hepatology Institute, Peking University People’s Hospital, Xizhimen South Road 11, Beijing 100044, China. chenhongsong@pkuph.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-10-88325726 Fax: +86-10-88325723
Received: October 29, 2013
Revised: February 13, 2014
Accepted: March 19, 2014
Published online: June 28, 2014
Abstract

Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) constitutes a major global public health threat, causing substantial disease burdens such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, thus representing high unmet medical needs. Currently available therapies are safe, well tolerated, and highly effective in decreasing viremia and improving measured clinical outcomes with low rates of antiviral resistance. However, long-term management remains a clinical challenge, mainly due to the slow kinetics of HBV surface antigen clearance. In this article, we review emerging antivirals directed at novel targets derived from mechanisms of viral cellular entry, viral replication, viral assembly, and the host immune response, leading to preclinical and clinical trials for possible future therapeutic intervention. The recent therapeutic advances in the development of all categories of HBV inhibitors may pave the way for regimens of finite duration that result in long-lasting control of chronic hepatitis B infection.

Keywords: Hepatitis B, Antiviral, Nucleoside analogue, Nucleotide analogue, Non-nucleoside antivirals

Core tip: Despite the presence of an effective vaccine, chronic infection with hepatitis B virus remains a global public health problem. This review summary the emerging antivirals directed at novel targets derived from mechanisms of viral cellular entry, viral replication, viral assembly, and the host immune response, leading to preclinical and clinical trials for possible future therapeutic intervention.