Briefing Note - tenofovir (Viread)

SMC has accepted tenofovir disoproxil for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in adults with compensated liver disease.

• Hepatitis B is a virus that is transmitted by infected blood and body fluids. It can cause an infection with flu-like symptoms, but usually resolves without treatment. However, in some cases the virus can cause chronic illness that lasts for months and potentially for life, with symptoms that come and go. Hepatitis B can cause liver disease in which the liver cells are damaged by the hepatitis infection but the liver continues to function normally (known as compensated liver disease). Chronic hepatitis B infection can also cause damage which affects liver function (a condition known as cirrhosis) and liver cancer.
• If chronic illness develops, antiviral treatment may be used to prevent cirrhosis and/or liver cancer. Tenofovir disoproxil is a new antiviral drug that stops the hepatitis B virus from increasing. It can lessen or stop the symptoms of chronic liver disease (a phase called remission). It is given as a tablet.
• Studies have shown that tenofovir disoproxil reduced the amount of virus to a low target level in more patients than did a similar drug.
• Side effects of tenofovir disoproxil are similar to those of a comparator antiviral drug. Before starting and during treatment with tenofovir disoproxil, patients should be monitored to make sure their kidneys are working properly.
• SMC accepted tenofovir disoproxil because it is more effective and cheaper than some similar drugs for this illness.