Introduction
Current Treatment Options for HBV Infection
Study | Sample size (n) | Patient status | HBV genotype | Treatment regimen | Follow-up (weeks) | Virological response | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HBeAg conversion (%) | HBsAg conversion (%) | HBV DNA suppression (%) | ||||||
Add-on strategy | ||||||||
Brouwer et al. [15] (ARES study) | 175 | HBeAg positive | A 7% B 20% C 42% D 31% | 1. ETV for 48 weeks + PEG-IFN-α in weeks 24–48 2. ETV for 48 weeks | 96 | 26a
13 | 1 0 | 77 (< 202 IU/ml) 72 |
Xie et al. [19] | 218 | HBeAg positive Treatment naïve HBV DNA ≥ 105copies/ml | – | 1. PEG-IFN-α for 48 weeks 2 PEG-IFN-α for 48 weeks + ETV in weeks 13–36 3. ETV for 24 weeks + PEG-IFN-α in weeks 21–68 | 72–92 | 31 25 26 | 1.4 4.1 1.4 | 40.3 (< 103 copies/ml) 31.5 37.0 |
Sequential strategy | ||||||||
Ning et al. [16] | 200 | HBeAg positive ETV for 9—36 months HBV DNA < 104 copies/ml | – | 1. PEG-IFN-α for 48 weeks 2. ETV for 48 weeks | 48 | 14.8a
6.1 | 4.3 0 | 72.0 (< 103 copies/ml) 97.8a
|
Piccolo et al. [81] | 30 | HBeAg negative HBV DNA ≥ 203 copies/ml | D 87% | 1. PEG-IFN-α for 24 weeks + LbT in weeks 25–48 2. LbT for 24 weeks + PEG-IFN-α in weeks 25–48 | 72 | – | 0 0 | 13.3 (< 203 IU/ml) 46.7a
|
Concomitant strategy | ||||||||
Liu et al. [82] | 61 | HBeAg positive HBV DNA ≥ 204 copies/ml | – | 1 PEG-IFN-α + ADF for 52 weeks 2 PEG-IFN-α for 52 weeks | 52 | 36.7 25.8 | 3.3 0 | 76.7a (undetectable) 29.0 |
Tangkijvanich et al. [83] | 125 | HBeAg negative Treatment naïve HBV DNA ≥ 203 copies/ml | B 19.8% C 78.6% Other 1.6% | 1. PEG-IFN-α + ETV for 48 weeks 2. PEG-IFN-α for 48 weeks | 96 | – | 3.2 7.9 | 38.1 (< 203 IU/ml) 41.3 |
Marcellin et al. [84] (stopped because of adverse events) | 159 | HBeAg positive Treatment naïve | A 17% B 24% C 19% D 28% Other 4% Unknown 9% | 1. PEG-IFN-α + LbT for 24 weeks 2. LbT for 24 weeks 3. PEG-IFN-α for 24 weeks | 24 | 8 4 12 | 0 0 0 | 71c (< 302 copies/ml) 35 7 |
Marcellin et al. [18] | 740 | HBeAg positive or negative Treatment naïve HBV DNA ≥ 204 copies/ml (HBeAg positive) or ≥ 203 copies/ml (HBeAg negative) | A 8% B 27% C 42% D 21% E–H 1% | 1. PEG-IFN-α + TDF for weeks 2. PEG-IFN-α for 16 weeks + TDF for 48 weeks 3. TDF for 120 weeks 4. PEG-IFN-α for 48 weeks | 72 | 25.0b
23.8 12.8 24.5 | 8.1 0.6 0 2.9 | 9.1 (< 15 IU/ml) 6.5 71.9d
9.2 |
For What Should We Be Aiming?
Novel Direct-Acting Antivirals for HBV
Binding and Attachment of HBV to the Hepatocyte
Entry into the Cytoplasm, Nucleocapsid Release, and Entry of DNA into the Nucleus and Conversion to cccDNA
Transcription by cccDNA, Production of Viral Proteins, and Capsid Assembly
Nucleocapsid Coating and Conversion of pgRNA to rcDNA
Surface Protein Secretion from the Hepatocyte
Release of Virions and Intrahepatocyte cccDNA Replenishment
Compound | Phase |
---|---|
Entry inhibitors | |
Myrcludex B | Phase I |
RNA interference | |
ALN-HBV | Phase I–II |
ARC-520 | Phase II |
ARB-1467 | Phase II |
Lunar-HBV | Preclinical |
BB-HB-331 | Preclinical |
Ionis HBVRx (GSK3228836) | Phase I |
IONIS-HBVLRx (GSK33389404) | Phase I |
Capsid assembly modulators/core inhibitors | |
GLS-4 (morphothiadine mesilate) | Phase II |
NVR 3-778 | Phase Ia |
BAY41-4109 | Phase I |
JNJ56136379 | Phase I |
Core protein allosteric modifier | Phase I |
Nucleoside/nucleotide analogues | |
AGX-1009 (prodrug of tenofovir) | Phase III |
LB80380 (besifovir) | Phase III |
CMX-157 (prodrug of tenofovir) | Phase IIa |
Surface antigen/release inhibitors | |
REP 2139 and REP 2165 | Phase II |
RO7020322 (RG7834) | Phase I |
GC 1102 | Phase II |
Therapeutic vaccines | |
GS-4774 (recombinant antigen containing X, Env, core epitopes) | Phase II |
ABX-203 (recombinant antigen containing HBsAg and HBcAg) | Phase II |
TG-1050 (nonreplicative adenovirus encoding a large fusion protein (truncated core, modified Pol, and 2 Env domains) | Phase I |
INO-1800 (DNA plasmids encoding HBsAg and HBcAg) | Phase I |
FP-02.2 (HepTcell) (peptide encoding CD4+ and CD8+ epitopes) | Phase I |
Innate immune defense pathway | |
GS 9620 | Phase II |
RO6864018 (RG7795, ANA773) | Phase II |
SB9200 | Phase II |
Novel Immunological Targets for HBV Therapy
Cellular Immune Response
Target | Target function | Binding partner | Drug | Indication | Phase |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
CTLA4 | Inhibitory receptor | CD80, CD86 | Ipilimumab | Melanoma Multiple malignancies | FDA approved Phase II/phase III |
Tremelimumab | Malignant mesothelioma | FDA approved | |||
PD1 | Inhibitory receptor | PD-L1, PD-L2 | Pembrolizumab Nivolumab Pidilizumab AMP-224 MDX-1106 | Melanoma Melanoma Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma Colorectal cancer Hepatitis C virus Multiple malignancies | FDA approved FDA approved Phase II Phase I Phase I |
PD-L1 | PD1 ligand | PD-1 | Avelumab BMS-936559 MPDL33280A MEDI4736 | Multiple malignancies HIV-1, multiple malignancies Multiple malignancies Multiple malignancies | Phase II Phase I Phase I Phase I |
CD137 | Stimulatory receptor | CD137L | BMS-663513 PF-05082566 | Solid tumors Lymphoma | Phase I/II Phase I |