Hepatitis b cure latest news 2018

As of 2018, there is no cure for hepatitis B, but there are several treatments available that can help manage the disease and reduce the risk of complications. Here are some of the latest developments and news related to hepatitis B treatment:

New treatments:

  1. Nucleos(t)ide analogues: These are oral medications that are commonly used to treat chronic hepatitis B. In 2018, the FDA approved two new nucleos(t)ide analogues: tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF).
  2. Pegylated interferon: This is a type of interferon that is given by injection and is used to treat chronic hepatitis B. In 2018, the FDA approved a new formulation of pegylated interferon called peginterferon lambda-1a.
  3. Elbasvir-grazoprevir: This is a combination of two medications that is used to treat chronic hepatitis B. In 2018, the FDA approved this combination for use in patients with chronic hepatitis B who have not responded to previous treatment.

Breakthroughs:

  1. Hepatitis B vaccine: In 2018, researchers announced a breakthrough in the development of a new hepatitis B vaccine that is more effective and longer-lasting than current vaccines.
  2. Gene therapy: Scientists have been exploring the use of gene therapy to treat hepatitis B. In 2018, researchers reported promising results from a clinical trial using a gene therapy approach to treat chronic hepatitis B.
  3. Immunotherapy: Researchers have been investigating the use of immunotherapy to treat hepatitis B. In 2018, a study published in the journal Nature Medicine reported that immunotherapy using a specific type of immune cell called a T cell was effective in treating chronic hepatitis B.

News and updates:

  1. WHO launches new hepatitis B treatment guidelines: In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched new guidelines for the treatment of hepatitis B, which recommend the use of nucleos(t)ide analogues as first-line therapy.
  2. Hepatitis B awareness campaign: In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a new awareness campaign to raise awareness about hepatitis B and the importance of getting vaccinated.
  3. Research funding: In 2018, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a new funding initiative to support research on hepatitis B and other liver diseases.

Key statistics:

  1. Global prevalence: According to the WHO, an estimated 257 million people worldwide are living with chronic hepatitis B.
  2. Mortality rate: The WHO estimates that hepatitis B causes approximately 887,000 deaths worldwide each year.
  3. Vaccination rates: According to the CDC, in 2018, only about 2% of adults in the United States had been vaccinated against hepatitis B.

Overall, while there is no cure for hepatitis B, there are several effective treatments available, and researchers are continuing to explore new approaches to managing the disease.