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Korkmaz P, Asan A, Karakeçili F, Tekin S, Demirtürk N. New Treatment Options in Chronic Hepatitis B: How Close Are We to Cure? INFECTIOUS DISEASES & CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY 2023; 5:267-280. [PMID: 38633851 PMCID: PMC10986727 DOI: 10.36519/idcm.2023.265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. HBV-infected patients are at a lifetime risk of developing liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Today, pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) and nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) are used in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Both treatment options have limitations. Despite effective viral suppression, NAs have little effect on covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), the stable episomal form of the HBV genome in hepatocytes. Therefore, the cure rate with NAs is low, and long-term treatment is required. Although the cure rate is better with Peg-IFN, it is difficult to tolerate due to drug side effects. Therefore, new treatment options are needed in the treatment of HBV infection. We can group new treatments under two headings: those that interfere with the viral life cycle and spread and those that modulate the immune response. Clinical studies show that combinations of treatments that directly target the viral life cycle and treatments that regulate the host immune system will be among the important treatment strategies in the future. As new direct-acting antiviral (DAA) and immunomodulatory therapies continue to emerge and evolve, functional cures in HBV treatment may be an achievable goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pınar Korkmaz
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Kütahya Health Sciences University School of Medicine, Kütahya, Türkiye
| | - Ali Asan
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Bursa Health Sciences University School of Medicine, Bursa, Türkiye
| | - Faruk Karakeçili
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University School of Medicine, Erzincan, Türkiye
| | - Süda Tekin
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Koç University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Neşe Demirtürk
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, School of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar, Türkiye
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Vesikari T, Langley JM, Popovic V, Diaz-Mitoma F. PreHevbrio: the first approved 3-antigen hepatitis B vaccine. Expert Rev Vaccines 2023; 22:1041-1054. [PMID: 37877189 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2023.2274482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatitis B remains a major cause of death and morbidity worldwide. Universal childhood immunization programs have been very successful, but many adults remain unprotected or are not optimally protected. PreHevbrio [Hepatitis B Vaccine (recombinant)] is a highly immunogenic 3-antigen (S/pre-S1/pre-S2) hepatitis B vaccine (3A-HBV) that recently received marketing authorization in the United States (2021), the European Union, United Kingdom (2022 - brand name PreHevbri), and Canada (2022- brand name PreHevbrio) for the prevention of infection caused by all known subtypes of the hepatitis B virus and the delta virus in adults 18 years and older. AREAS COVERED This review details the development of 3A-HBV and summarizes the results of the phase 3 clinical trials that support its immunogenicity and safety in adults. EXPERT OPINION 3A-HBV is highly immunogenic in adults of all ages, including older adults and subgroups that respond sub-optimally to conventional single S-antigen hepatitis B vaccines (1A-HBV), such as those with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and smokers. 3A-HBV provides higher seroprotection rates after each vaccination compared to conventional 1A-HBV vaccines, allowing for more rapid protection. The higher overall immunogenicity is also reflected in more durable seroprotection years after vaccination, as supported by a follow-up study to one of the phase 3 studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joanne M Langley
- IWK and Nova Scotia Health, Canadian Center for Vaccinology Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
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Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a global health burden. Timely and effective antiviral therapy is beneficial for patients with HBV infection. With existing antiviral drugs, including nucleos(t)ide analogs and interferon-alfa, patients can achieve viral suppression with improved prognosis. However, the rate of hepatitis B surface antigen loss is low. To achieve a functional cure and even complete cure in chronic hepatitis B patients, new antivirals need to be developed. In this review, we summarized the advantages and disadvantages of existing antiviral drugs and focused on new antivirals including direct-acting antiviral drugs and immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Abstract
Vaccination is a key intervention for the elimination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections to fulfil the WHO’s 2030 global elimination goal. Innovations in 2021 promise to curb HBV transmission by reducing mother-to-child transmission and enhancing vaccine immunogenicity in at-risk adult groups. Additionally, an HCV vaccination trial was conducted, and there were also advances in our understanding of the immunology underpinning the lack of protection against HCV reinfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manal H. El-Sayed
- grid.7269.a0000 0004 0621 1570Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University and the Faculty of Medicine Ain Shams University Clinical Research Center (MASRI-CRC), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Jordan J. Feld
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada
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Ma H, Lim TH, Leerapun A, Weltman M, Jia J, Lim YS, Tangkijvanich P, Sukeepaisarnjaroen W, Ji Y, Le Bert N, Li D, Zhang Y, Hamatake R, Tan N, Li C, Strasser SI, Ding H, Yoon JH, Stace NH, Ahmed T, Anderson DE, Yan L, Bertoletti A, Zhu Q, Yuen MF. Therapeutic vaccine BRII-179 restores HBV-specific immune responses in patients with chronic HBV in a phase Ib/IIa study. JHEP Rep 2021; 3:100361. [PMID: 34661089 PMCID: PMC8502773 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2021.100361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Functional cure of chronic HBV infection (CHB) without life-long treatment requires the restoration of defective HBV-specific humoral and cellular immunity. Therapeutic vaccines based on the major structural and non-structural proteins have been tested in patients with CHB but have shown scarce immunogenicity. BRII-179, also known as VBI-2601, is a novel formulation comprised of all 3 HBV surface envelope proteins (Pre-S1, Pre-S2, and S). Safety, antiviral activity, and immunogenicity of BRII-179 admixed with co-adjuvant interferon (IFN)-α were assessed in patients with CHB. Method This randomized, open-label, controlled phase Ib/IIa study included 2 dose levels, 20 μg BRII-179 (Part 1, n = 25) and 40 μg BRII-179 (Part 2, n = 24). Patients, virally suppressed under nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) therapy were randomized 1:2:2 into 3 cohorts in Part 1 and 1:1 into 2 cohorts in Part 2 to receive 4 monthly intramuscular injections of BRII-179 admixed with/without 3 MIU IFN-α. Antibody and cellular responses to HBsAg, as well as evolution of circulating HBsAg were monitored. Results Both 20 μg and 40 μg BRII-179 with/without IFN-α were well tolerated with no severe adverse events. BRII-179 induced anti-HBs responses in >30% patients in all treatment cohorts, however, moderate anti-Pre-S1 or anti-Pre-S2 antibody responses were only observed in patients receiving BRII-179 with IFN-α. BRII-179 also restored S-, Pre-S1-, Pre-S2-specific IFN-γ-producing T-cells in the majority of treated patients. Overall, no notable reduction of HBsAg was observed after BRII-179 treatment. Conclusion In patients with CHB under NA therapy, BRII-179 with/without IFN-α exhibited a good safety profile and induced HBV-specific B- and T-cell immune responses. These data support further clinical evaluation of BRII-179 in combination with other therapies. Clinical Trial Number ACTRN12619001210167. Lay summary BRII-179 is a therapeutic vaccine designed to improve the immune response in patients with chronic hepatitis B. In this study, BRII-179 alone or with a low dose of interferon-α was safe, well tolerated, and induced enhanced HBV-specific antibody and T-cell responses in patients with chronic hepatitis B. However, BRII-179 treatment alone had minimal effect on patient's virological status. The potential of BRII-179 to achieve a functional cure in conjunction with other agents is being evaluated in the clinic.
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Key Words
- AE, adverse event
- ALT, alanine aminotransferase
- Anti-HBs, hepatitis B surface antibody
- BMI, body mass index
- BRII-179
- CHB
- CHB, chronic hepatitis B
- ELISpot, enzyme-linked immune absorbent spot
- HBV, hepatitis B virus
- HBV-specific immune response
- HBeAg, hepatitis B e antigen
- HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen
- IFN-alpha
- IFN-α, interferon-α
- IM, intramuscular
- IU, international units
- NA, nucleos(t)ide analogue
- PBMCs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells
- PEG-IFN-α, pegylated interferon-α
- SAE, serious adverse events
- Th1, T helper type 1
- immunotherapy
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Ma
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | | | | | | | - Jidong Jia
- Beijing Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Young-Suk Lim
- Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Pisit Tangkijvanich
- Center of Excellence in Hepatitis and Liver Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Yun Ji
- Brii Biosciences Inc. Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nina Le Bert
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Dong Li
- Brii Biosciences Inc. Beijing, PR China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Brii Biosciences Inc. Beijing, PR China
| | | | - Nicole Tan
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | | | | | - Huiguo Ding
- Beijing You 'an Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Nigel H Stace
- Capital & Coast District Health Board, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Li Yan
- Brii Biosciences Inc. Durham, NC, USA
| | - Antonio Bertoletti
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Qing Zhu
- Brii Biosciences Inc. Durham, NC, USA
| | - Man-Fung Yuen
- Department of Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
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Tay BQ, Wright Q, Ladwa R, Perry C, Leggatt G, Simpson F, Wells JW, Panizza BJ, Frazer IH, Cruz JLG. Evolution of Cancer Vaccines-Challenges, Achievements, and Future Directions. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9050535. [PMID: 34065557 PMCID: PMC8160852 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9050535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of cancer vaccines has been intensively pursued over the past 50 years with modest success. However, recent advancements in the fields of genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and immunology have renewed interest in these immunotherapies and allowed the development of promising cancer vaccine candidates. Numerous clinical trials testing the response evoked by tumour antigens, differing in origin and nature, have shed light on the desirable target characteristics capable of inducing strong tumour-specific non-toxic responses with increased potential to bring clinical benefit to patients. Novel delivery methods, ranging from a patient’s autologous dendritic cells to liposome nanoparticles, have exponentially increased the abundance and exposure of the antigenic payloads. Furthermore, growing knowledge of the mechanisms by which tumours evade the immune response has led to new approaches to reverse these roadblocks and to re-invigorate previously suppressed anti-tumour surveillance. The use of new drugs in combination with antigen-based therapies is highly targeted and may represent the future of cancer vaccines. In this review, we address the main antigens and delivery methods used to develop cancer vaccines, their clinical outcomes, and the new directions that the vaccine immunotherapy field is taking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ban Qi Tay
- Faculty of Medicine, Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (B.Q.T.); (Q.W.); (G.L.); (F.S.); (J.W.W.); (I.H.F.)
| | - Quentin Wright
- Faculty of Medicine, Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (B.Q.T.); (Q.W.); (G.L.); (F.S.); (J.W.W.); (I.H.F.)
| | - Rahul Ladwa
- Department of Medical Oncology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia;
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia; (C.P.); (B.J.P.)
| | - Christopher Perry
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia; (C.P.); (B.J.P.)
- Department of Otolaryngology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Graham Leggatt
- Faculty of Medicine, Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (B.Q.T.); (Q.W.); (G.L.); (F.S.); (J.W.W.); (I.H.F.)
| | - Fiona Simpson
- Faculty of Medicine, Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (B.Q.T.); (Q.W.); (G.L.); (F.S.); (J.W.W.); (I.H.F.)
| | - James W. Wells
- Faculty of Medicine, Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (B.Q.T.); (Q.W.); (G.L.); (F.S.); (J.W.W.); (I.H.F.)
| | - Benedict J. Panizza
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia; (C.P.); (B.J.P.)
- Department of Otolaryngology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Ian H. Frazer
- Faculty of Medicine, Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (B.Q.T.); (Q.W.); (G.L.); (F.S.); (J.W.W.); (I.H.F.)
| | - Jazmina L. G. Cruz
- Faculty of Medicine, Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (B.Q.T.); (Q.W.); (G.L.); (F.S.); (J.W.W.); (I.H.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-0478912737
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