Five-year Treatment with Tenofovir Alafenamide Achieves High Rates of Viral Suppression,Alanine Aminotransferase Normalization,and Favorable Bone and Renal Safety in Chinese Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

Background and Aims:After 3-years(144 week)of double-blind treatment in Chinese chronic hepatitis B patients in two ongoing phase 3 studies,tenofovir alafenamide(TAF)showed similar efficacy to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate(TDF),with improved renal and bone safety.In this study,we aimed to report the 5-year results from 2 years into the open-label TAF treatment phase.Methods:All participants completing the 144-week double-blind treatment were eligible to receive open-label TAF 25 mg once daily up to week 384.Serial analysis of viral suppression(hepatitis B virus DNA<29 IU/mL),alanine aminotransferase normalization,serological responses,and safety outcomes at year 5(week 240)was performed.Results:The openlabel phase included 93%(311/334)of the enrolled participants,which included 212 who switched from double-blind TAF to open-label TAF(TAF-TAF)and 99 who switched from double-blind TDF to open-label TAF(TDF-TAF).Baseline characteristics were comparable.Week 240 viral suppression rates were similar between groups[93.4%vs.93.9%;difference:-1.5%,(95%CI:-6.4 to-3.5),p=0.857].Alanine aminotransferase normalization and serological response rates were higher in the TAF-TAF group than in the TDF-TAF group.The frequencies of adverse events and laboratory abnormalities were low and similar between groups.Both groups had similar small numerical declines from baseline in estimated glomerular filtration rate at year 5(week 240,-2.85 mL/min vs.-3.29 mL/min,p=0.910).The greater declines in renal and bone parameters in the TDF-TAF group through week 144 improved after switching to TAF.Conclusions:The 5-year TAF treatment efficacy was high and similar to that of 3-year TDF followed by 2-year TAF in Chinese chronic hepatitis B patients.Favorable effects on bone and renal parameters were sustained with TAF treatment alone and were observed following the switch from TDF to TAF.

96-Week Treatment of Tenofovir Amibufenamide and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

Background and Aims:Tenofovir amibufenamide(TMF)is a novel phosphoramidated prodrug of tenofovir with nonin-ferior efficacy and better bone and renal safety to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate(TDF)in 48 weeks of treatment.Here,we update 96-week comparison results.Methods:Patients with chronic hepatitis B were assigned(2:1)to receive either 25 mg TMF or 300 mg TDF with matching placebo for 96 weeks.The virological suppression was defined as HBV DNA levels<20 IU/mL at week 96.Safety was evaluated thoroughly with focusing on bone,renal,and metabolic pa-rameters.Results:Virological suppression rates at week 96 were similar between TMF and TDF group in both HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative populations.Noninferior efficacy was maintained in the pooled population,while it was first achieved in patients with HBV DNA≥7 or 8 log10 IU/mL at baseline.Non-indexed estimated glomerular filtration rate for renal safety assessment was adopted,while a smaller decline of which was seen in the TMF group than in the TDF group(p=0.01).For bone mineral density,patients receiv-ing TMF displayed significantly lower reduction levels in the densities of spine,hip,and femur neck at week 96 than those receiving TDF.In addition,the lipid parameters were stable after week 48 in all groups while weight change still showed the opposite trend.Conclusions:TMF maintained similar efficacy at week 96 compared with TDF with continued superior bone and renal safety profiles(NCT03903796).

HBsAg Loss with Peg-interferon Alfa-2a in Hepatitis B Patients with Partial Response to Nucleos(t)ide Analog:New Switch Study

Background and Aims:Hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg)loss is seldom achieved with nucleos(t)ide analog(NA)therapy in chronic hepatitis B patients but may be enhanced by switching to finite pegylated-interferon(Peg-IFN)alfa-2a.We assessed HBsAg loss with 48-and 96-week Peg-IFN alfa-2a in chronic hepatitis B patients with partial response to a previous NA.Methods:Hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg)-positive patients who achieved HBeAg loss and hepatitis B virus DNA<200 IU/mL with previous adefovir,lamivudine or entecavir treatment were randomized 1:1 to receive Peg-IFN alfa-2a for 48(n=153)or 96 weeks(n=150).The primary endpoint of this study was HBsAg loss at end of treatment.The ClinicalTrials.gov identifier is NCT01464281.Results:At the end of 48 and 96 weeks'treatment,14.4%(22/153)and 20.7%(31/150)of patients,respectively,who switched from NA to Peg-IFN alfa-2a cleared HBsAg.Rates were similar irrespective of prior NA or baseline HBeAg seroconversion.Among those who cleared HBsAg by the end of 48 and 96 weeks'treatment,77.8%(14/18)and 71.4%(20/28),respectively,sustained HBsAg loss for a further 48 weeks.Baseline HBsAg<1500 IU/mL and week 24 HBsAg<200 IU/mL were associated with the highest rates of HBsAg loss at the end of both 48-and 96-week treatment(51.4%and 58.7%,respectively).Importantly,extending treatment from 48 to 96 weeks enabled 48.3%(14/29)more patients to achieve HBsAg loss.Conclusions:Patients on long-term NA who are unlikely to meet therapeutic goals can achieve high rates of HBsAg loss by switching to Peg-IFN alfa-2a.HBsAg loss rates may be improved for some patients by extending treatment from 48 to 96 weeks,although the differences in our study cohort were not statistically significant.Baseline and on-treatment HBsAg may predict HBsAg loss with Peg-IFN alfa-2a.

Efficacy and Safety of All-oral,12-week Ravidasvir Plus Ritonavir-boosted Danoprevir and Ribavirin in Treatment-naive Noncirrhotic HCV Genotype 1 Patients:Results from a Phase 2/3 Clinical Trial in China

Background and Aims:Ravidasvir(RDV)is a new generation pangenotypic hepatitis C virus(HCV)NS5A inhibitor,with high barrier to baseline resistance-associated species.This is the first phase 2/3 study conducted in China's Mainland confirming the efficacy and safety of RDV+ritonavir-boosted danoprevir+ribavirin for 12 weeks in treatment-naive noncirrhotic patients with genotype 1 infection in a large population.Methods:In this multicenter,randomized,doubleblinded,placebo-controlled phase 2/3 trial(NCT03362814),we enrolled 424 treatment-nafve,noncirrhotic adult HCV genotype 1 patients.All patients were randomized at 3∶1 ratio to receive a combination of RDV 200mg once daily plus ritonavir-boosted danoprevir 100mg/100mg twice daily and oral ribavirin 1000/1200mg/day(body weight<75/≥75 kg)(n=318)or placebo(n=106)for 12 weeks.The primary end-point was the rate of sustained virologic response 12 weeks after the end of treatment,and the safety was evaluated and compared between treatment and placebo groups.Results:The overall rate of sustained virological response at 12 weeks after treatment is 99%(306/309,95%,CI:97%-100%)under per protocol set analysis.All patients harboring baseline NS5A resistance-associated species in the treatment group(76/76,per protocol set)achieved sustained virological response at 12 weeks after treatment.No treatment-related serious adverse events were reported.Laboratory abnormalities showed mild or moderate severity(grade 1 and grade 2)in liver function tests.Conclusions:In treatment-na(i)ve,noncirrhotic HCV Chinese patients infected with HCV genotype 1,all-oral regimen of RDV+ritonavir-boosted danoprevir+ribavirin for 12 weeks was highly efficacious,safe,and well tolerated.

3-year Treatment of Tenofovir Alafenamide vs.Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate for Chronic HBV Infection in China

Background and Aims:Tenofovir alafenamide(TAF)has similar efficacy to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate(TDF)but with improved renal and bone safety in chronic hepatitis B patients studied outside of China.We report 3-year results from two phase 3 studies with TAF in China(Clinicaltrials.gov:NCT02836249 and NCT02836236).Methods:Chinese hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg)-positive and-negative chronic hepatitis B patients with viremia and elevated alanine aminotransferase were randomized 2:1 to TAF or TDF treatment groups and treated in a double-blind fashion for 144 weeks(3 years).Efficacy responses were assessed by individual study while safety was assessed by a pooled analysis.Results:Of the 334 patients(180 HBeAg-positive and 154 HBeAg-negative)randomized and treated,baseline characteristics were similar between groups.The overall mean age was 38 years and 73%were male.The mean HBV DNA was 6.4 log10 IU/mL.The median alanine aminotransferase was 88 U/L,and 37%had a history of antiviral use.At week 144,the proportion with HBV DNA<29 IU/mL was similar among the two groups,with TAF at 83%vs.TDF at 79%,and TAF at 93%vs.TDF at 92%for the HBeAg-positive and-negative patients,respectively.In each study,higher proportions of TAF than TDF patients showed normalized alanine aminotransferase(via the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the China criteria)and showed loss of HBsAg;meanwhile,the HBeAg seroconversion rates were similar.Treatment was well-tolerated among the TAF patients,who showed a smaller median decline in creatinine clearance(−0.4 vs.−3.2 mL/min;p=0.014)and less percentage change in bone mineral density vs.TDF at hip(−0.95%vs.−1.93%)and spine(+0.35%vs.−1.40%).Conclusions:In chronic hepatitis B patients from China,TAF treatment provided efficacy similar to TDF but with better renal and bone safety at 3 years.