A new breakthrough offers hope for a ‘functional cure’ of hepatitis B

Researchers have achieved a major milestone in treating chronic hepatitis B, with a new drug called bepirovirsen demonstrating a functional cure in one in five patients. The findings, published May 28 in the *New England Journal of Medicine*, come from a phase III trial involving 1,838 adults with chronic hepatitis B from 29 countries. When combined with standard treatment, the drug helped patients maintain viral control without medication for over six months, a significant improvement over the current 3% cure rate after eight to ten years of therapy. The study, led by Seng Gee Lim of the National University Health System in Singapore, marks the first treatment to show such promising results in decades. Experts like Anna Suk-Fong Lok, director of clinical hepatology at the University of Michigan, called the findings a breakthrough, though they noted the drug’s limitations—it was less effective in patients with cirrhosis, HIV coinfection, or severe disease. Chronic hepatitis B affects over 240 million people globally, making it a leading cause of liver cancer. Only 13% of those infected are aware of their condition, earning it the nickname ‘silent killer.’ The new data offers hope for patients who have long faced stigma and the burden of lifelong antiviral therapy. While the results are encouraging, researchers emphasize that further studies are needed before bepirovirsen can be widely adopted. Jane Davies, an infectious disease specialist in Australia, described the findings as ‘promising initial results,’ highlighting the need for continued efforts to combat the disease. Hepatitis B spreads through blood and bodily fluids and can lead to severe liver damage if untreated. The trial’s success suggests a potential shift in treatment paradigms, though real-world applicability remains uncertain for excluded patient groups.