Hong Kong researcher zeroes in on ‘functional cure’ for hepatitis B
- The medication, now the subject of 58 separate research projects, is aimed at ending a lifelong need for drugs to manage the viral liver infection
- HKU’s Professor Yuen Man-fung, leading 30 of those studies, has called for the city to expand hepatitis B testing and introduce citywide vaccinations for hepatitis A
A new hepatitis B medication being developed by a Hong Kong researcher could mean those suffering from the viral liver infection no longer have to rely on drugs for life.
Professor Yuen Man-fung, chair of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Hong Kong and recipient of the prestigious Croucher Senior Medical Research Fellowship 2021, has been leading 30 of the 58 research projects aimed at developing the new medicine.
Early stage trials for one project have already shown some success, with two out of eight patients now no longer relying on long-term drugs.
“Current medication works, but needs to be taken long-term. Now, research all over the world is aiming to develop a ‘functional cure’, so patients would no longer need to rely on drugs their entire life,” Yuen said.
“Functional cures can lower the amount of viruses within the body to the lowest possible level, so a person no longer needs to rely on medication and can fight off the effect of the virus with their own immune system.”