Chinese researchers tried four different types of antivirals in 155 previously-untreated patients (all HBeAg-positive) to see which antiviral worked best. After one year of treatment, they found all antivirals worked equally well.
After 52 weeks of treatment, surprisingly there were no marked differences between the antivirals, which included entecavir, lamivudine, telbivudine (Tyzeka) and a combination of lamivudine and adefovir (Hepsera).
According to the report published in the January 2015 issue of the Saudi Journal of Hepatology, after 52 weeks of treatment the mostly-male patients experienced these results:
- Lamivudine-treated group: 36% lost HBeAg and 83% achieved undetectable viral load.
- Entecavir-treated group: 39% lost HBeAg and 96% achieved undetectable viral load.
- Telbivudine group: 48% lost HBeAg and 91% achieved undetectable viral load.
- Lamivudine plus adefovir group: 35% lost HBeAg and 89% had undetectable viral load.
