Table 8.
Emerging pipeline drugs for chronic hepatitis B virus infection
| Drug name | Mechanism of action | Status |
| Nucleos(t)ide analogues | ||
| Clevudine | Inhibits DNA polymerase | Partial approval |
| Emtricitabine | Inhibits DNA polymerase | FDA approved for HIV |
| Nucleos(t)ide analogue prodrugs | ||
| Amdoxovir | Inhibits DNA polymerase | II (for HIV) |
| LB80380 | Inhibits DNA polymerase | IIb |
| Famciclovir | Inhibits DNA polymerase | Abandoned |
| Pradefovir | Inhibits DNA polymerase | Abandoned |
| Tenofovir alafenamide (GS 7340) | Inhibits DNA polymerase | II/III |
| MIV-210 | Inhibits DNA polymerase | Abandoned |
| Non-nucleos(t)ide antivirals | ||
| NOV-205 (BAM 205) | Unknown | Approved in Russia |
| Myrcludex-B | Inhibits viral entry | Ib/IIa |
| Bay 41-4109 | Inhibits viral core formation | I |
| GLS4 | Inhibits HBV viral core assembly | Pre-clinical |
| Rep 9 AC | Blocks HBsAg release | II |
| NVR-1221 | Capsid inhibitor | Pre-clinical |
| Immunomodulators | ||
| Pegylated interferon lambda | Cytokine modulating innate/adaptive immune response | I |
| GS-9620 | TLR-7 agonist | Pre-clinical |
| Nitazoxanide | Unknown | II |
| EHT899 | Immune enhancer | II |
| Therapeutic vaccines | ||
| HBV core antigen vaccine | Enhance T cell response | I |
| HBV-EPV | Immunogenic | Withdrawn |
| ePA-44 | Immunogenic | II |
| HI-8 HBV | Stimulates IFN-γ producing T cells | II |
| Others | ||
| β-thujaplicinol | Blocks viral ribonuclease H activity | Pre-clinical |
| ARC520 | RNA interference | I |
| Herbal bushen formula | Down-regulate CD4+ and CD25+ T cells | TCM |
HBV: Hepatitis B virus; TCM: Traditional chinese medicine; HBsAg: Hepatitis B surface antigen; HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus; FDA: Food and Drug Administration; IFN: Interferon.