Abstract

Tenofovir in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B

Author(s): Derek Yu and Jenny Heathcote

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is prevalent worldwide. It may lead to serious complications including cirrhosis and is the most common risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Treatment for CHB could potentially be lifelong, and it is mandatory that drug therapies for CHB be efficacious and safe. Tenofovir disoproxil fumurate (TDF) is a nucleotide analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor that was approved in 2008 by the US FDA for the treatment of CHB in adults. Clinical trials of TDF have demonstrated superior efficacy with potent antiviral properties and a high barrier to resistance in addition to a good safety profile. This review will detail results of clinical trials, which have evaluated both efficacy and safety of TDF in the treatment of CHB and include a discussion on the comparative effectiveness of TDF with other licensed treatments for CHB.