Overview

• Fewer than 3 percent of the 256 million people with chronic HBV receive treatment despite available safe, effective and affordable drugs.
• Two papers in Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology commissioned by the International Coalition to Eliminate HBV argue for broadening eligibility criteria to reach more patients.
• Chronic hepatitis B causes over 3,000 deaths every day and is responsible for half of all global liver cancer cases in untreated individuals.
• Modeling indicates that initiating therapy earlier could reduce liver cancer incidence by two-thirds to three-quarters and slow cumulative liver damage.
• Expanded treatment could also ease the emotional and social toll of the disease, including stress from undiagnosed mother-to-infant transmission and community stigma.