Sequential PEG-IFN for HBV After Ending RNA-targeted Regimens

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare sequential PEG-IFNα therapy strategies in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients previously treated with ASO/siRNA. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does sequential PEG-IFNα therapy (vs. deferred/no treatment) improve HBsAg clearance rates? 2. What are the HBsAg clearance and relapse rates after 24 weeks of PEG-IFNα therapy? 3. Is intermittent PEG-IFNα therapy as effective and safe as continuous therapy? Researchers will compare: • Group A (immediate 24-week PEG-IFNα + 24-week follow-up) vs. Group B (24-week observation + 24-week PEG-IFNα) in Phase 1 to see if sequential PEG-IFNα therapy will improve HBsAg loss rate . Researchers will describe: * The response rate of IFN treatment in non-responders (HBsAg-positive) in Phase 2. * The relaspe rate of responders (HBsAg-negative). Participants will: Phase 1 (0-48 weeks): * Group A: Receive PEG-IFNα for 24 weeks, followed by 24-week treatment-free follow-up. * Group B: Undergo 24-week observation, then receive PEG-IFNα for 24 weeks. Phase 2 (48-96 weeks): * HBsAg-positive at week 48 patients either from group A or group B : Receive 24-week PEG-IFNα therapy, followed by 24-week follow-up. * HBsAg-negative at week 48 patients either from group A or group B: Enter 24-week follow-up without treatment. All participants will undergo: • HBsAg quantification, HBV DNA, liver function, and safety monitoring (every 12 weeks).

Timeline

Start

2025-05-01

Primary completion

2027-12-31

Completion

2028-05-31

Publications

• Background Ning Q, Han M, Sun Y, Jiang J, Tan D, Hou J, Tang H, Sheng J, Zhao M. Switching from entecavir to PegIFN alfa-2a in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B: a randomised open-label trial (OSST trial). J Hepatol. 2014 Oct;61(4):777-84. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2014.05.044. Epub 2014 Jun 7.
• Background Yuen MF, Lim YS, Yoon KT, Lim TH, Heo J, Tangkijvanich P, Tak WY, Thanawala V, Cloutier D, Mao S, Arizpe A, Cathcart AL, Gupta SV, Hwang C, Gane E. VIR-2218 (elebsiran) plus pegylated interferon-alfa-2a in participants with chronic hepatitis B virus infection: a phase 2 study. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024 Dec;9(12):1121-1132. doi: 10.1016/S2468-1253(24)00237-1. Epub 2024 Oct 8.
• Background Mak LY, Wooddell CI, Lenz O, Schluep T, Hamilton J, Davis HL, Mao X, Seto WK, Biermer M, Yuen MF. Long-term hepatitis B surface antigen response after finite treatment of ARC-520 or JNJ-3989. Gut. 2025 Feb 6;74(3):440-450. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2024-333026.
• Background Buti M, Heo J, Tanaka Y, Andreone P, Atsukawa M, Cabezas J, Chak E, Coffin CS, Fujiwara K, Gankina N, Gordon SC, Janczewska E, Komori A, Lampertico P, McPherson S, Morozov V, Plesniak R, Poulin S, Ryan P, Sagalova O, Sheng G, Voloshina N, Xie Q, Yim HJ, Dixon S, Paff M, Felton L, Lee M, Greene T, Lim J, Lakshminarayanan D, McGonagle G, Plein H, Youssef AS, Elston R, Kendrick S, Theodore D. Sequential Peg-IFN after bepirovirsen may reduce post-treatment relapse in chronic hepatitis B. J Hepatol. 2025 Feb;82(2):222-234. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.08.010. Epub 2024 Aug 29.
• Background Yuen MF, Lim SG, Plesniak R, Tsuji K, Janssen HLA, Pojoga C, Gadano A, Popescu CP, Stepanova T, Asselah T, Diaconescu G, Yim HJ, Heo J, Janczewska E, Wong A, Idriz N, Imamura M, Rizzardini G, Takaguchi K, Andreone P, Arbune M, Hou J, Park SJ, Vata A, Cremer J, Elston R, Lukic T, Quinn G, Maynard L, Kendrick S, Plein H, Campbell F, Paff M, Theodore D; B-Clear Study Group. Efficacy and Safety of Bepirovirsen in Chronic Hepatitis B Infection. N Engl J Med. 2022 Nov 24;387(21):1957-1968. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2210027. Epub 2022 Nov 8.
• Zhang Q, Sun F, Sui S, Lin J, Wu C, Yuan J, He Y, Shang J, Han T, Zhu Y, Huang Z, Chen C, Qiu C, Wang X, Zhang J, Xie Y, Zhang W. Efficacy and Safety of Pegylated Interferon as Rescue Therapy for Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Who Failed to Achieve Functional Cure After Antisense Oligonucleotides or Small Interfering RNA: A Prospective, Multicentre, Open-Label Randomized Controlled Trial (SPHERE) Protocol. Adv Ther. 2026 May 23. doi: 10.1007/s12325-026-03633-0. Online ahead of print.

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