Entecavir therapy for up to 96 weeks in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B.

Author(s): Gish RG, Lok AS, Chang TT, de Man RA, Gadano A, Sollano J, Han KH, Chao YC, Lee SD, Harris M, Yang J, Colonno R, Brett-Smith H

Affiliation(s): Division of Hepatology and Complex GI, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA.

Publication date & source: 2007-11, Gastroenterology., 133(5):1437-44. Epub 2007 Aug 14.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Entecavir demonstrated superior benefit to lamivudine at 48 weeks in nucleoside-naive patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We evaluated continued entecavir and lamivudine treatment through 96 weeks. METHODS: 709 HBeAg-positive CHB patients were randomized to entecavir 0.5 mg (n = 354) or lamivudine 100 mg (n = 355) once daily. At week 52, protocol-defined virologic responders could continue blinded treatment for up to 96 weeks. Patients continuing in year 2 (entecavir, n = 243; lamivudine, n = 164) were assessed for serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization, HBeAg seroconversion, and safety. Cumulative confirmed proportions of all treated patients who achieved these responses were also analyzed. RESULTS: Among patients treated in year 2, 74% of entecavir-treated versus 37% of lamivudine-treated patients achieved HBV DNA <300 copies/mL by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and 79% of entecavir-treated versus 68% of lamivudine-treated patients normalized ALT levels. Similar proportions of entecavir-treated and lamivudine-treated patients achieved HBeAg seroconversion (11% vs 12%, respectively). Higher proportions of entecavir-treated than lamivudine-treated patients achieved cumulative confirmed HBV DNA <300 copies/mL by PCR (80% vs 39%; P < .0001) and ALT normalization (87% vs 79%; P = .0056) through 96 weeks. Cumulative confirmed HBeAg seroconversion occurred in 31% of entecavir-treated versus 25% of lamivudine-treated patients (P = NS). Through 96 weeks, no patient experienced virologic breakthrough due to entecavir resistance. The safety profile was comparable in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Entecavir treatment through 96 weeks results in continued benefit for patients with HBeAg-positive CHB.