Anti-PD-1 Blockade with Nivolumab with and without Therapeutic Vaccination for Virally Suppressed Chronic Hepatitis B: A Pilot Study

More than 240 million people worldwide are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) [1 –2]. In the Asia-Pacific region, where it is most prevalent, chronic HBV infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma [2–6]. While currently approved oral nucleos(t)ide analogs effectively suppress viral replication, providing important clinical benefi ts, there are several disadvantages of this therapeutic approach. First, since antiviral therapy is rarely curative, most patients must receive life-long treatment with the attendant cost, cumulative toxicity, and risk of breakthrough through either nonadherence or the emergence of antiviral resista nce.
Source: Journal of Hepatology - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Source Type: research