Can Hepsera treat lamivudine-resistant Hep B?

Can Hepsera (adefovir) treat lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B?

Hepsera (adefovir dipivoxil) is used to treat chronic hepatitis B, including cases where the virus is resistant to lamivudine. Adefovir can suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients with lamivudine-resistant disease because it targets HBV with a different antiviral activity than lamivudine.

What does “lamivudine-resistant” mean for treatment choice?

Lamivudine-resistant HBV means the virus has developed mutations that reduce how well lamivudine can control viral replication. In that setting, clinicians often switch to a different antiviral agent (or add one with a non-overlapping resistance profile) to regain viral suppression.

Are there limits or risks when switching to adefovir?

Even when Hepsera is active against lamivudine-resistant HBV, treatment still needs monitoring. Antiviral response may vary by patient, and long-term therapy requires follow-up to check HBV viral load response and to monitor kidney safety, since adefovir can affect renal function.

Sources

1. DrugPatentWatch.com – Hepsera (adefovir dipivoxil) drug information and patent activity