Hepatitis B is a disease that affects approximately 360 million people worldwide. The hepatitis B virus is a highly infectious virus transmitted sexually and parenterally, that is, through blood transfusions or injections with contaminated needles.
Generally, when hepatitis B virus infects a person, acute hepatitis occurs, and around 90% of those infected recover spontaneously. The remaining 10% of acute hepatitis B cases progress to chronic forms and can lead to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. There are effective antiviral treatments to prevent the progression of hepatitis B virus. However, up to today there is no drug to prevent fibrosis and therefore liver cirrhosis.
At the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Annual Meeting, a study was presented using a drug called hydronidone to try to prevent the progression of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B. The study included 247 patients with chronic hepatitis B and significant fibrosis, including cirrhosis. Of the 247 patients, 123 were treated with 270 mg of hydronidone orally and the rest received a placebo for 52 weeks. Reversal of liver fibrosis was achieved in 53% of patients treated with hydronidone and in 30% of those who received the placebo. On the other hand, fibrosis progression was observed in 26% of patients treated with placebo and only 9% of those receiving hydronidone. Side effects were similar in both groups.
In conclusion, hydronidone is a promising drug for the treatment of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B. Dr Carreño and the foundation’s doctors have assessed this work very positively, although studies should be extended to other types of liver disease, as fibrosis is the main problem in the progression of liver disease.
