"Active viral hepatitis treatment can prevent carcinoma"

Maria Buti, Chair of Public Health at the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL)

TAF drugs, Vemlidy, are effective in preventing hepatocellular carcinoma

No vaccines to prevent hepatitis C…early treatment can prevent the spread of the virus

Maria Buti, Chair of Public Health at the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL)

"Most individuals affected by viral hepatitis do not have symptoms.

 

They may not be aware of their infection.

 

When individuals realize that they have abnormalities in their body, liver disease has already progressed.

 

It is important to identify and treat patients early in their disease progression to prevent complications related to hepatocellular carcinoma and liver disease." During a meeting with Daily Pharm, Maria Buti, Chair of Public Health at the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), emphasized the importance of early treatment for hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

 

Hepatitis B is caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV).

 

It can cause infection, advanced liver injury, and chronic liver disease.

 

Hepatitis B is implicated in the cause of hepatocellular carcinoma by over 60%.

 

Recently, there has been a discussion about maximizing the preventative effect of hepatocellular carcinoma by early treatment of hepatitis B.

 

Vemlidy is indicated for treatment.

 

Compared to the conventional use of TDF (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), such as Viread, Vemlidy has been shown to reduce the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma by half.

 

Hepatitis C is identified as contributing to the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in 10-15% of the patients.

 

However, hepatitis C is now curable with the introduction of Epclusa.

 

There are various genotypes of hepatitis C, and Epclusa is highly effective in most patients, regardless of their genotypes.

 

Buti emphasized the timely use of treatments to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma now that effective new drugs are available.

 

Vemlidy has been shown to be effective in preventing hepatocellular carcinoma Because Hepatitis B is incurable, individuals must take medicines their whole lives, but treatments for managing the virus are available in the market.

 

Vemlidy, a type of TAF (tenofovir alafenamide), Vemlidy, and Baraclude are used to treat hepattiis B.

 

Currently, the drugs used in clinical practice are known to suppress viral load significantly.

 

These treatments can suppress the virus to an undetectable level in tests, even though the virus continues to attempt replication.

 

"Antiviral drugs such as Vemlidy, Viread, and Baraclude can help prevent liver decompensation in patients," Buti said.

 

"However, ensuring the safety of drugs is increasingly important due to their long-term use." Vemlidy is also suitable for use in pregnant women and has the advantage of not requiring dose adjustment based on the patient's renal function status.

 

The 8-year follow-up clinical trials, 'Studies 108 & 110,' for Vemlidy conducted on both treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients, confirmed 5-year viral suppression rates and liver cancer prevention effects.

 

Out of the 1,298 patients involved in the study, there were no instances of decompensated hepatocirrhosis reported in the Vemlidy-treated group.

 

Moreover, during the 8-year period, there were 21 cases (1.6%) of hepatocellular carcinoma in the Vemlidy-treated group.

 

There were also no documented cases of drug resistance among patients treated with Vemlidy.

 

In a study evaluating the safety of Vemlidy in patients with severe kidney dysfunction and kidney diseases, no additional adverse reactions were observed.

 

"If active treatment with drugs like Vemlidy is initiated early during hepatitis B infection, favorable outcomes can be achieved," Buti said.

 

"Additionally, it has been shown that Vemlidy can prevent the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma and other complications.

 

Currently, treatment trends focus on the early use of TAF-based drugs such as Vemlidy." Buti added, "Korean treatment guidelines, such as those from the Korean Association for the Study of the Liver, have stricter restrictions on the use of drugs compared to European guidelines.

 

In Europe, the criteria for initiating treatment, such as HBV DNA levels or liver function tests, are relatively lower, allowing for earlier treatment initiation." Buti said, "To effectively treat hepatitis B, starting treatment as early as possible for as many patients as possible is crucial.

 

It is necessary to compare different guidelines to broaden the scope of treatment." Hepatitis C, without vaccines…drugs can be used for prevention Hepatitis C has a lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma compared to hepatitis B, but if left untreated, it can lead to liver cancer or severe liver disease.

 

Hepatitis C is considered curable if detected early and treated with drugs on time.

 

Epclusa has made it possible to treat hepatitis C regardless of genotype or liver cirrhosis status.

 

Buti emphasized, "Hepatitis C has various genotypes, but Epclusa is effective regardless of genotype.

 

Epclusa can be administered orally once daily, making treatment easier for patients." Patient screening is important for Hepatitis B since it's curable, according to Buti.

 

"Spain was the first country in the world to achieve hepatitis C elimination.

 

A key factor in this success was the micro-elimination strategy.

 

While definitions of high-risk groups may vary by country, in Spain, high-risk groups with high hepatitis C prevalence, such as injection drug users and patients with mental illnesses, were required to undergo screening whenever they visited the emergency room," Buti said.

 

In Spain, individuals have participated in screening for hepatitis C, which has led to significant achievements.

 

"Since there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, treatment is used as a preventive measure.

 

From a public health perspective, this is a critical concept," Buti said.

 

"Treating infected individuals to block further virus spread is a good approach to prevention." "When a patient is diagnosed with hepatitis C through screening, it is crucial to provide timely information about appropriate treatments, such as antiviral drugs, and ensure that the treatment is pursued.

 

A diagnosis without follow-up treatment is meaningless.

 

Therefore, linking diagnosis to treatment is crucial for achieving hepatitis C elimination," Buti added.

 

"To prevent viral liver infection from progressing and patients suffering from side effects, early diagnosis of patients is crucial.

 

The only way is to do a screening.

 

This applies to both hepatitis B and hepatitis C," Buti emphasized.