Chronic hepatitis B is a long-term liver infection caused by hepatitis B virus that can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is a major global health problem despite the availability of effective vaccination and antiviral management.
In the Philippines, an estimated 7.3 million adults live with chronic hepatitis B, far above regional averages. Experts warn that complex treatment guidelines may hinder front-line clinicians from initiating care, while Thailand’s success with vaccination shows a path to elimination. Expanding screening and simplifying treatment are critical steps.
Arbutus and Genevant filed three new lawsuits against Pfizer and BioNTech over mRNA vaccine lipid nanoparticle patents, shortly after receiving a $178 million payment from Moderna. Sanofi also launched two separate patent suits against Pfizer and Moderna. A Delaware court previously narrowed Moderna's defenses in a related case.
GSK's Phase III B-Well trials show bepirovirsen achieved 19% functional cure in chronic hepatitis B, rising to 26% in patients with lower viral activity, versus 0% for placebo. Regulatory decisions are expected in Q3 2026.
January and March 2026 drug pipeline updates included Phase 3 results, Fast Track designations and Priority Review decisions across multiple disease areas. Mavacamten, teplizumab-mzwv, anifrolumab, AXS-05, gedatolisib and AFTX-201 were among the programs with notable milestones.
GSK agreed to license linerixibat to Alfasigma in a deal worth up to $690 million, while Eisai received orphan drug designation in Japan for E2086, a novel selective orexin 2 receptor agonist for narcolepsy.
Precision BioSciences receives FDA Fast Track designation for PBGENE-DMD, a gene editing therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy designed to treat patients with mutations in exons 45-55.
| NCT ID | Title | Status | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCT07777250 |
Targeting ANKRD11 Reverses HBV-Specific CD8+ T Cell Dysfunction and Tolerance |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | |
| NCT07764835 |
Prospective Evaluation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance in At-Risk Patients (Screening HCC) |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | |
| NCT07730736 |
Analysis of Clinical Characteristics of Chronic Hepatitis B Combined With MAFLD in Different TCM Syndrome Types |
COMPLETED | |
| NCT07709520 |
Study of GST-HG131&141 Tablets Compared With Placebo in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B |
RECRUITING | PHASE2 |
| NCT07684209 |
A Study on the Consistency Evaluation of Digital PCR Technology for Quantitative Detection of HBV Nucleic Acid |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | |
| NCT07635186 |
A Study to Evaluate AHB-137 Injection in Treatment-naïve Participants With Chronic Hepatitis B |
RECRUITING | PHASE2 |
| NCT07600788 |
A Clinical Study Evaluating the Pharmacokinetic Characteristics and Safety of AHB-137 Injection in Participants With Mild to Moderate Liver Dysfunction and Those With Normal Liver Function. |
RECRUITING | PHASE1 |
| NCT07595159 |
A Study of BW-20507 in Chinese Healthy Subjects and Subjects With Chronic Hepatitis B |
COMPLETED | PHASE1 |
| NCT07589400 |
Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Characteristics of ACT500 in Participants With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Complicated With Chronic Hepatitis B |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | PHASE1 |
| NCT07588009 |
Phase IIIB Extension Clinical Trial of Efficacy and Safety of GST-HG141 (Nairevir) Combined With NAs in Chronic Hepatitis B |
NOT_YET_RECRUITING | PHASE3 |
