Seng Gee Lim | PubMed Health

PubMed2026

HBsAg decline and clearance with peg-IFN therapy added to nucleos(t)ide analogues: an individual participant data meta-analysis of prospective trials (PROSPER).

BACKGROUND: Peg-interferon (peg-IFN) plays an increasingly important role in HBV cure strategies, either in combination with novel antivirals, as a lead-in or as consolidation treatment. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to provide estimates of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) decline and clearance that can be achieved with peg-IFN addition to nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) therapy. DESIGN: This is a post hoc meta-analysis of individual participant data from eight clinical trials involving chronic hepatitis B patients on NA therapy who received peg-IFN add-on. The primary endpoint was HBsAg loss at end of follow-up (EOF, 6-12 months after end of peg-IFN). Secondary analyses focused on HBsAg decline. RESULTS: 581 patients were included. At the start of peg-IFN therapy (SOT), 44% were hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) positive, mean HBsAg level was 3.03 log10 IU/mL (HBsAg<100: 12%; 100-1000: 28%; ≥1000: 60%), and planned duration of peg-IFN was 48 weeks in 496 patients (85%).At EOF, 50 (8.6%) patients achieved HBsAg loss (HBsAg<100/100-1000/≥1000: 37.7/9.8/2.3%, p<0.001) Findings were consistent across ethnicities (Caucasian: 30.0/8.7/3.6%; Asian: 39.3/9.2/2.2%). In patients with SOT HBsAg≥1000 IU/mL, levels <1000 and <100 were achieved in 29.7% and 8.9% at 24 weeks and in 47.5% and 16.3% at 48 weeks of peg-IFN therapy, respectively. CONCLUSION: Peg-IFN add-on results in HBsAg loss in 18% of patients with SOT HBsAg<1000 IU/mL, and in 38% if SOT HBsAg<100 IU/mL. Among patients with higher HBsAg levels, peg-IFN could be used to reduce HBsAg to below thresholds associated with response to novel compounds.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Long-Term Effectiveness of Tenofovir Alafenamide Versus Entecavir in Treatment-Naive Chronic Hepatitis B: A Real-World Evidence from the Global Alliance for the Study of Hepatitis B Virus.

INTRODUCTION: Although both tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) and entecavir (ETV) are recommended first-line treatments for chronic hepatitis B, comparative data on their effectiveness remain limited. We aim to compare their virologic (VR), biochemical (BR), and complete (CR) response rates. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled treatment-naive chronic hepatitis B patients who initiated either TAF or ETV in 2016 or after across 22 international centers and evaluated their treatment response after balancing their characteristics using inverse probability treatment weighting and through Fine-Gray competing-risks analysis of the balanced cohort. RESULTS: The study included 1,605 patients (784 TAF and 821 ETV patients with significant background differences) of whom 1,553 (96.8%) were from Asia. Inverse probability treatment-weighting analysis yielded a total weighted cohort of 1,660 (822 TAF and 838 ETV patients with balanced characteristics). The 5-year cumulative VRs were high in both groups with a slightly higher rate in TAF patients (98.0% vs 93.9%, P < 0.001), and similar findings were found in a subgroup analysis by median hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA (5.5 log IU/mL). However, there was no significant difference in the 5-year BR rates overall (93.7 vs 92.8%, P = 0.484) or by alanine aminotransferase (ALT) cutoff of 2× upper limit of normal. TAF patients had a slightly higher 5-year cumulative CR overall (94.9% vs 89.4%, P = 0.001) and in high HBV DNA (96.9% vs 87.9%, P < 0.001) or ALT ≥2× upper limit of normal patients (97.3% vs 90.6%, P < 0.001), but not in those with lower HBV DNA or ALT. DISCUSSION: BR rates were similar with ETV and TAF, while VR and CR were higher with TAF, although the difference was modest (<5% overall, 7%-9% in high HBV DNA or ALT groups). Antiviral selection between TAF vs ETV should be based mainly on cost, side effect profile, and patient preference.

Adult↗