Global research consortium seeks hepatitis B cure

A global research consortium, led by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has launched a study to find new treatments and a potential cure for hepatitis B. The initiative includes research groups from Brazil, India, Senegal, and Uganda.

In Brazil, the study is represented by the University of São Paulo (USP) and the Cassiano Antônio Moraes University Hospital (Hucam-Ufes) at the Federal University of Espírito Santo. The research aims to observe viral behavior at a cellular level and analyze immune responses in infected patients, including those co-infected with HIV.

The project involves monitoring 600 patients across the participating countries over approximately five years. Researchers seek to identify genetic characteristics that protect against rapid viral evolution and discover viral subparticles that could serve as predictors for successful treatment or a cure. The ultimate goal is to eliminate hepatitis B as a public health problem by 2030.