Direct-acting antivirals and viral RNA targeting for hepatitis B cure.

Abstract

The current aim in the HBV landscape is to develop therapeutic strategies to achieve a functional cure of infection, characterized by a sustained loss of HBsAg off-treatment. Current treatment options, that is, nucleos(t)ide analogues and IFN are effective at viral suppression but very poor at achieving HBsAg loss. This article is designed to summarize the HBV life cycle in order to review the current treatment strategies and compounds targeting different points of the virus life cycle, which are either in preclinical or clinical phases. Recently our developed understanding of the HBV life cycle has enabled the development of multiple novel treatment options, all aiming for functional cure. It is likely that combinations of novel treatments will be needed to achieve a functional cure, including those that target the virus itself as well as those that target the immune system.