Can Hepatitis B Finally Be Cured?
Can Hepatitis B Finally Be Cured? How an antisense drug moved from an experimental molecule to successful Phase 3 trials. ⏱ In 30 Seconds ✓ Bepirovirsen is an antisense oligonucleotide designed to target hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA. ✓ In two Phase 3 trials, functional cure was achieved in 20% and 19% of treated participants, compared with 0% in placebo groups. ✓ Bepirovirsen is now under regulatory review, although questions remain about how many patients will benefit and its safety profile . Chronic hepatitis B can be effectively controlled with antiviral drugs such as tenofovir and entecavir, which suppress HBV replication and substantially reduce the risk of liver disease. However, these treatments rarely produce a functional cure, and many patients require long-term therapy. Bepirovirsen is an antisense oligonucleotide that targets HBV RNA, with the aim of reducing both viral replication and the production of viral proteins. In 2026, two large Phas...