Hepatitis B
Today’s hepatitis B medicines keep the virus quiet. Much of the research now asks whether treatment could one day be stopped.
What research in this area looks at
Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. For many adults it clears on its own, but in some it stays for life, and over many years it can scar the liver or lead to liver cancer. Daily tablets keep the virus down, usually for good.
Trials in this area test new medicines that attack the virus in different ways, treatments that wake up the immune response, and plans for stopping tablets safely. Others study liver scarring and liver cancer screening in people living with the virus.
Kinds of study you will come across
Listings in this area usually fall into one of these. A single study can sit in more than one.
Lasting control
Combine new medicines with current tablets to see whether the virus stays quiet once treatment stops.
Stopping treatment
Follow people closely after tablets are stopped under supervision.
Liver health
Measure scarring and fat in the liver over time, often with no medicine at all.
Liver cancer screening
Compare scans and blood tests for spotting liver cancer early.
What visits can include
- Blood tests for the virus, the liver and the immune response
- A liver stiffness scan, which works like an ultrasound
- Injections or tablets, depending on the study
- Frequent visits for a while if a study stops your usual tablets
What to have ready before you call
- Your most recent viral load and liver blood tests
- How long you have taken hepatitis B tablets, and which ones
- Any liver scan or stiffness results
- Whether you also live with hepatitis C, hepatitis D or HIV
Questions worth asking a study team
Write them down before the first call. The team has heard each one many times and expects them.
Will I need to stop the tablets I take now?
How closely am I watched if the virus becomes active again?
How long does the study last, including follow-up?
Can my own liver doctor see my results?
Only the study team can say whether a study would take you. Talk to your own doctor before deciding. In an emergency, call 911.
Stay updated on hepatitis B research
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