Man Fung Yuen, MD, PhD: The Future of Hepatitis B Treatment

While some think it is reasonable that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) could be eradicated in the next decade, it is not seen as a possibility for the hepatitis B virus (HBV).

With an estimated 257 million individuals suffering from HBV infections worldwide, treating the disease remains paramount.

The key to this is early screenings and detection, enabling doctors to start treatments as early as possible. There are several treatment options for patients, with new drugs currently being studied to further our ability to treat the virus.

In the latest episode of DocTalk, Man Fung Yuen, MD, PhD, discusses some of the new treatments in the pipeline including RG6346, an investigational treatment for chronic HBV. Yuen recently announced positive data from a phase 1 proof-of-concept trial showing the therapeutic candidate produced sustained HBsAg reductions, without yielding any serious adverse events.

Yuen, who is the Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Hong Kong, said the drug, developed by Dicerna in collaboration with Roche, could make a major impact in treating this patient population.

Yuen also discussed how new advances in HBV treatment could usher in an era of personalized medicine for patients suffering from the viral infection.