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Semin Liver Dis 2017; 37(02): 085-094
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1600522
The Immune-Inflammation Connection
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA

Clinical Trial Design for Immune-Based Therapy of Hepatitis B Virus

Upkar S. Gill
1   Department of Hepatology, Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, QMUL, London, United Kingdom
2   Program Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
,
Antonio Bertoletti
2   Program Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
3   Infection and Immunity Program, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
4   Singapore Immunology Network, Singapore Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 May 2017 (online)

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Abstract

The treatment paradigm in hepatitis B virus is on the cusp of major development, with a multitude of novel agents undergoing testing for clinical efficacy. Such new immune therapies are urgently required for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus. The current direct antiviral therapies, although able to control viral replication and limit the progression to cirrhosis, require lifelong administration due to frequent viral rebound on treatment cessation, and immune modulation with interferon is only effective in a subpopulation of patients. Here the authors discuss novel agents in the pipeline along with whom and how best to utilize these immune therapies to achieve functional cure with defined treatment endpoints in chronic hepatitis B virus.

Keywords

chronic hepatitis B - T-cell therapy - toll-like receptor agonists - immune-tolerance - viral hepatitis
 

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