From the Editor's desk...: June 2015

Selection of the monthTargeting Toll-like receptor 7 in chronic HBV infectionToll-like receptor (TLR) signaling has been implicated to play a significant role in the context of cytokine-induced 'curing' of HBV-infected cells. In previous studies, the oral small molecule TLR7 agonist GS-9620 caused a marked HBsAg reduction in chronically HBV-infected chimpanzees. The present study by Menne et al. evaluated GS-9620 in the HBV Woodchuck animal model demonstrating that short duration treatment with the TLR7 agonist was able to induce a sustained antiviral response which is likely due to the induction of local interferon-alpha and natural killer cell and CD8+ T cell responses as well as activation of B cells. A striking reduction in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma was also observed in the treated animals. The safety and efficacy of GS-9620 (attaining a functional cure?) will be further developed in a phase II multi-center study in virally-suppressed subjects with chronic hepatitis B (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02166047).231