Viral Hepatitis News

Viral hepatitis is a major danger to public health. According to WHO’s 2024 Global Hepatitis Report, viral hepatitis deaths increased from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022, rates now similar to tuberculosis.

Treatment with xalnesiran, a small interfering RNA molecule, plus an immunomodulator resulted in hepatitis B surface antigen loss among adults with chronic HBV infection, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Data from a postlicensure study support the CDC’s recommendation that Heplisav-B can now be administered to pregnant persons needing hepatitis B vaccination, as its use did not appear to increase risk for major birth defects or miscarriage.

Incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma was significantly higher among cirrhotic patients coinfected with hepatitis B and D viruses compared with those with HBV alone, with researchers suggesting HDV “plays a direct role” in HCC occurrence.

Among veterans with chronic hepatitis B virus infection, rates of hepatitis D virus testing were low and those with concurrent infection were at greater risk for cirrhosis and hepatic decompensation, according to study results.

SAN DIEGO — Combination therapy with peginterferon alfa-2b and nucleos(t)ide analogues resulted in significantly higher hepatitis B surface antigen loss vs. monotherapy in children with HBV, especially among those aged younger than 7 years.

SAN DIEGO — Combination tobevibart and elebsiran led to “profound and rapid virologic suppression” as well as normalization of alanine aminotransferase at week 24 in chronic hepatitis D virus infection, according to preliminary data.

SAN DIEGO — Treatment with combination tobevibart and elebsiran led to hepatitis B surface antigen loss among 39% of patients with chronic HBV and low baseline HBsAg, which rose to 46% by adding pegylated interferon-alfa, data showed.

SAN DIEGO — Retreatment with nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy for relapse after withdrawal did not affect hepatitis B surface antigen seroclearance among patients with chronic HBV infection, according to a researcher at The Liver Meeting.