Title: The Discovery of Antivirals to Cure Chronic Viral Hepatitis
Abstract: Chronic viral hepatitis caused by the hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses impacts over 350 million individuals globally and is the major cause of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver transplants. Efforts toward the development of direct-acting antiviral therapies has delivered transformational curative medicines for HCV patients. However, for HBV patients, the development of curative therapies is still under investigation. This talk will address key discoveries that led to the development of the breakthrough HCV drug sofosbuvir and will discuss current research that is underway to find therapies to cure chronic HBV infections.