An experimental GSK drug helped 1 in 5 patients with chronic hepatitis B achieve what's known as a functional cure, according to new clinical trial data. This outcome vastly outpaced current standard therapies, representing a potential breakthrough for the 300 million people worldwide living with the chronic liver infection.
Current treatments for chronic hepatitis B often require lifelong management and rarely eliminate the virus entirely. This investigational drug targets the root cause of the infection, raising hopes for a finite treatment regimen that could transform patient care globally.
The Phase 2 trial showed that nearly 1 in 5 participants achieved a functional cure, defined as undetectable viral levels with sustained immune control after stopping therapy. GSK has not yet disclosed detailed safety profiles or the exact patient demographics from the study.
If approved, the therapy could reshape the hepatitis B market, which is dominated by older antiviral drugs like tenofovir and entecavir. GSK is now expected to advance the drug into larger Phase 3 trials to confirm efficacy and safety in diverse populations.
The results face scrutiny as the study was small and uncontrolled, with experts noting that functional cure rates may decline in larger, diverse cohorts. The drug's long-term durability and cost remain unaddressed.