Adefovir dipivoxil in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Abstract

Adefovir dipivoxil (Hepsera, Gilead Sciences) is a prodrug of adefovir, with potent antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus. Adefovir dipivoxil therapy, 10 mg daily for 48 weeks, is effective in hepatitis B e antigen-positive and -negative chronic hepatitis B. In hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B, adefovir dipivoxil was recently found to maintain its efficacy even after 3 years of therapy. Adefovir dipivoxil is effective in patients with compensated or decompensated chronic viral B liver disease, and in pre- and post-transplant hepatitis B virus patients who develop resistance to lamivudine (Epivir, GlaxoSmithKline). It is well-tolerated and safe even after the third year of long-term therapy, and is associated with low rates of viral resistance. All these characteristics make adefovir dipivoxil an important drug for the treatment of hepatitis B virus infection and an excellent candidate for long-term maintenance therapy in chronic viral B liver disease.

• Authors: Stephanos J Hadziyannis, George V Papatheodoridis
• Journal: Expert review of anti-infective therapy (Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther) Vol. 2 Issue 4 Pg. 475-83 (Aug 2004) ISSN: 1478-7210 [Print] England
• PMID: 15482214 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Hepatitis B e Antigens
• Organophosphonates
• Lamivudine
• adefovir
• Adenine

Topics

• Adenine (analogs & derivatives, chemical synthesis, therapeutic use)
• Antiviral Agents (chemistry, therapeutic use)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Drug Approval
• Drug Resistance, Viral
• HIV Infections (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Hepatitis B e Antigens (chemistry)
• Hepatitis B, Chronic (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Lamivudine (therapeutic use)
• Organophosphonates (chemical synthesis, therapeutic use)