Besifovir dipivoxil maleate improves safety for hepatitis B

A new study suggests that Besifovir dipivoxil maleate (BSV) could be a safer alternative to the current treatment for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). CHB is a serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and can lead to severe liver issues like cirrhosis and cancer. The standard treatment, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), is widely used but can harm kidney function and bone health over time. Researchers aimed to explore BSV, which has shown similar effectiveness as TDF in previous studies. Led by Dr. Hyung Joon Yim from Korea University Ansan Hospital, researchers studied 153 CHB patients who had been on TDF for at least 48 weeks. They switched some of these patients to BSV for another 48 weeks and compared the results. The study found that both BSV and TDF effectively reduced HBV levels in patients. Among those who completed the trial, 100% of BSV patients and 98.5% of TDF patients had low virus levels in their blood. Importantly, no antiviral resistance was observed when patients switched to BSV. Additionally, patients who switched to BSV experienced improved kidney function and better bone density compared to those who continued with TDF. Dr. Yim emphasized that these findings show the potential of BSV as a safer long-term treatment for CHB, raising hopes for patients requiring antiviral therapy.