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Safety and efficacy of entecavir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B

Authors Osborn M

Published 3 February 2011 Volume 2011:4 Pages 55—64

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S4188

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 3



Melissa Osborn
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

Abstract: Entecavir is a cyclopentyl deoxyguanosine analog that was approved for the treatment of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 2005. In Phase III trials, it showed potent HBV suppression with drops of 6- to 7-log copies/mL in HBV DNA at 1 year. In addition, rates of genotypic resistance in nucleos(t)ide-naïve patients are low, reaching only 1.2% after 6 years. Safety and efficacy have been established in compensated cirrhosis and HIV-coinfected patients. Studies in decompensated cirrhosis also show efficacy. Because of potent viral suppression and a large genetic barrier to resistance, entecavir is now a first-line choice in most HBV treatment guidelines and has become an integral part of the HBV treatment armamentarium.

Keywords: hepatitis B, therapy, entecavir

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