Emerging New Therapies for Viral Hepatitis

Viral hepatitis can be caused by infection with different viruses, including hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D virus (HDV), and hepatitis E virus (HEV). In this chapter, we summarized current treatments and new emerging therapies for viral hepatitis in general, with a particular focus on chronic hepatitis B. Acute hepatitis is most commonly managed with supportive care symptomatically. Recently, chronic infection with HCV can be cured at a high efficacy with combinations of antivirals via oral intake. Unlike HCV, eradication of HBV in chronic hepatitis B patients remains a challenge. We reviewed here recent advances of new strategies for HBV therapy, including the inhibition of viral entry, the destruction or silencing of HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), and the approach of breaking immune tolerance. Combinations of different therapeutic strategies could improve the cure rate of chronic hepatitis B.