New Hepatitis B Drug Shows Promising Cure Potential in Major Trial

A new experimental drug has raised hopes for millions living with chronic hepatitis B, a disease that affects more than 240 million people worldwide and remains a leading cause of liver cancer.

Results from a phase III clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine on May 28 found that adding the drug bepirovirsen to standard treatment led to a functional cure in about 20 percent of patients. The study involved 1,838 adults from 29 countries.

A functional cure means the virus remained under control without medication for at least six months. By comparison, current standard therapies achieve similar outcomes in only around 3 percent of patients after years of treatment.

Researchers say the findings mark a significant step forward in the long-standing search for more effective hepatitis B treatments, offering new hope to patients who currently depend on lifelong antiviral medication. Experts believe the drug could help reduce both the health burden and social stigma associated with chronic hepatitis B if approved for wider use.