Bepirovirsen achieves 'functional cure' for hepatitis B

Researchers have reported a significant medical breakthrough with bepirovirsen, an experimental drug for hepatitis B, which has achieved a 'functional cure' in approximately 20% of patients in two international studies. This means patients were able to stop treatment without the virus showing signs of rebound. Developed by GSK plc and Ionis Pharmaceuticals, bepirovirsen works by binding to genetic components of the virus, suppressing replication, and stimulating the immune system. The findings were published in the The New England Journal of Medicine and presented at a scientific meeting in Barcelona. The drug is currently under fast-track review by the United States — Food and Drug Administration, with a decision expected in October, and is also being considered by regulators in Japan, China, and Europe. This development offers a potential improvement over current lifelong therapies for chronic hepatitis B, which affects over 250 million people worldwide and causes 1.1 million deaths annually.