The global prevalence of HBV is estimated to be between 292 and 360 million, with approximately 260 million people living with chronic HBV infection.
Current treatment options for chronic HBV consist of life-long antiviral therapy to suppress virus replication. This can slow the progression of liver cirrhosis and reduce the incidence of liver cancer. About 30% of patients with chronic HBV develop liver cirrhosis, and nearly 23% of these die within five years of developing cirrhosis. Despite long-term antiviral therapy, 16.2% and 9.3% progressed to cirrhosis and developed HCC at 5 years, respectively.
Only approximately 1.6% and 0.7% of the European and Americas regions, respectively, are infected.
HBV is most common in the Western Pacific and African regions, where approximately 6% of the adult population is infected.
Chronic HBV infection is associated not only with significant morbidity and mortality, but also with weak or absent endogenous HBV-specific T cell reactivity. In contrast, clinical recovery and effective antiviral therapy are associated with sustained viral control by HBV-specific T cells.
Currently, there are no curative therapies available.
ALVR107 is in preclinical development with plans to commence Phase 1/2 clinical trials.
