BioSpace

Ionis partner GSK announces bepirovirsen achieves unprecedented functional cure rates with potential to redefine treatment for chronic hepatitis B

FirstWord Pharma

GSK's bepirovirsen achieves 19% functional cure rate in key hepatitis B studies

Morningstar

GSK hails "major step forward" after "positive" hepatitis drug results

Fierce Biotech

GSK’s hepatitis B drug cures one-fifth of patients in ‘major step’ for pervasive disease

NEJM

Phase 3 Results of Bepirovirsen Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

The New York Times

Scientists Find a Potential Cure for Chronic Hepatitis B

Bepirovirsen achieves unprecedented functional cure rates with potential to redefine treatment for chronic hepatitis B

Science

New drug ‘functionally cures’ many hepatitis B virus infections

Experimental hepatitis B drug might offer functional cure for a subset of patients

AJMC

Bepirovirsen Achieves Clinically Meaningful Functional Cure Rates in Chronic Hepatitis B

National Geographic

A new breakthrough offers hope for a functional cure of hepatitis B

Phase 3 trial results for bepirovirsen, an investigational antisense oligonucleotide developed by GSK and Ionis Pharmaceuticals, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Thursday, show that the drug cured 1 in 5 patients with chronic hepatitis B infections.

Phase 3 trial results for bepirovirsen, an investigational antisense oligonucleotide developed by GSK and Ionis Pharmaceuticals, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Thursday, show that the drug cured 1 in 5 patients with chronic hepatitis B infections.

Pooled data from the B-Well 1 and B-Well 2 trials, conducted across 29 countries and involving more than 1,838 patients, showed a 19% functional cure rate in the overall study population, compared with 0% in the placebo group.

Pooled data from the B-Well 1 and B-Well 2 trials, conducted across 29 countries and involving more than 1,838 patients, showed a 19% functional cure rate in the overall study population, compared with 0% in the placebo group.

Among participants with baseline hepatitis B surface antigen at or below 1,000 IU/mL — representing roughly 45% of diagnosed chronic hepatitis B cases globally — a functional cure rate of 26% was recorded, versus 0% in the placebo group.

Among participants with baseline hepatitis B surface antigen at or below 1,000 IU/mL — representing roughly 45% of diagnosed chronic hepatitis B cases globally — a functional cure rate of 26% was recorded, versus 0% in the placebo group.

In the pooled safety analysis, serious adverse events occurred in 7% of bepirovirsen recipients versus 4% of placebo patients. The most common adverse events were injection site erythema, local pain and temporary rises in alanine aminotransferase levels.

In the pooled safety analysis, serious adverse events occurred in 7% of bepirovirsen recipients versus 4% of placebo patients. The most common adverse events were injection site erythema, local pain and temporary rises in alanine aminotransferase levels.

Bepirovirsen is under priority review by the FDA with Breakthrough and Fast Track Designation and is also under review in Europe, Japan and China. GSK anticipates the first regulatory decisions in the third quarter of 2026.

Bepirovirsen is under priority review by the FDA with Breakthrough and Fast Track Designation and is also under review in Europe, Japan and China. GSK anticipates the first regulatory decisions in the third quarter of 2026.

The current standard of care for chronic hepatitis B typically requires lifelong antiviral therapy, with functional cure achieved in less than 1% of patients. The disease affects more than 240 million people worldwide and causes approximately 1.1 million deaths annually.

The current standard of care for chronic hepatitis B typically requires lifelong antiviral therapy, with functional cure achieved in less than 1% of patients. The disease affects more than 240 million people worldwide and causes approximately 1.1 million deaths annually.

BioSpace #

FirstWord Pharma #

Morningstar #

Fierce Biotech #

NEJM #

The New York Times #

GSK #

Science #

CNN #

AJMC #

National Geographic #

Phase 3 trial results for bepirovirsen, an investigational antisense oligonucleotide developed by GSK and Ionis Pharmaceuticals, were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the EASL congress in 2026.

Phase 3 trial results for bepirovirsen, an investigational antisense oligonucleotide developed by GSK and Ionis Pharmaceuticals, were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the EASL congress in 2026.

Pooled data from the B-Well 1 and B-Well 2 trials, conducted across 29 countries with more than 1,838 patients, showed a 19% functional cure rate in the overall study population, compared to 0% in the placebo group.

Pooled data from the B-Well 1 and B-Well 2 trials, conducted across 29 countries with more than 1,838 patients, showed a 19% functional cure rate in the overall study population, compared to 0% in the placebo group.

GSK's bepirovirsen is a genuine breakthrough for the 240 million people living with chronic hepatitis B — a disease that kills 1.1 million annually and currently demands lifelong treatment. About 1 in 5 patients achieved a functional cure, meaning the immune system controls the virus without any medication. That's a massive leap from the less-than-1% functional cure rate of existing standard care.

GSK's bepirovirsen is a genuine breakthrough for the 240 million people living with chronic hepatitis B — a disease that kills 1.1 million annually and currently demands lifelong treatment. About 1 in 5 patients achieved a functional cure, meaning the immune system controls the virus without any medication. That's a massive leap from the less-than-1% functional cure rate of existing standard care.

The 19% functional cure rate is statistically significant and clinically meaningful, but the real story is what happens beyond that headline number. An exploratory analysis found 49% of bepirovirsen recipients hit a surface antigen level linked to stronger immune control a year after treatment ended. Surface antigen loss is tied to an 89% reduction in liver cancer risk — that's the kind of outcome that redefines what treating hepatitis B can look like.

The 19% functional cure rate is statistically significant and clinically meaningful, but the real story is what happens beyond that headline number. An exploratory analysis found 49% of bepirovirsen recipients hit a surface antigen level linked to stronger immune control a year after treatment ended. Surface antigen loss is tied to an 89% reduction in liver cancer risk — that's the kind of outcome that redefines what treating hepatitis B can look like.

GSK Drug Shows 19% Cure Rate for Hepatitis B

Diseases & conditions

Health

Science & technology

Bepirovirsen is a genuine breakthrough for the 240 million people living with chronic hepatitis B — a disease that kills 1.1 million annually and currently demands lifelong treatment. About 1 in 5 patients achieved a functional cure, meaning the immune system controls the virus without any medication. That's a massive leap from the less-than-1% functional cure rate of existing standard care.

Bepirovirsen is a genuine breakthrough for the 240 million people living with chronic hepatitis B — a disease that kills 1.1 million annually and currently demands lifelong treatment. About 1 in 5 patients achieved a functional cure, meaning the immune system controls the virus without any medication. That's a massive leap from the less-than-1% functional cure rate of existing standard care.

Headlines describing a hepatitis B cure may overstate early results because the treatment achieved a functional cure in only a minority of trial participants. Researchers still lack long-term evidence proving patients remain permanently virus-free, while side effects, accessibility and high treatment costs remain concerns. Chronic hepatitis B remains challenging, and broader studies are necessary before celebrating a cure.

Headlines describing a hepatitis B cure may overstate early results because the treatment achieved a functional cure in only a minority of trial participants. Researchers still lack long-term evidence proving patients remain permanently virus-free, while side effects, accessibility and high treatment costs remain concerns. Chronic hepatitis B remains challenging, and broader studies are necessary before celebrating a cure.

GSK Drug Shows Potential Cure for Chronic Hepatitis B

GSK Drug Shows 19%Potential Cure Rate for Chronic Hepatitis B

The Spin

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

GSK Drug Shows Potential Cure for Chronic Hepatitis B

GSK Drug Shows 19%Potential Cure Rate for Chronic Hepatitis B

The Spin

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters