The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has today (22 July) published final guidance recommending the use of tenofovir disoproxil for the treatment of people with chronic HBeAg-positive or HBeAg-negative hepatitis B in whom antiviral treatment is indicated.

This guidance does not apply to people with chronic hepatitis B who also have hepatitis C, hepatitis D or HIV.

Dr Gillian Leng, NICE Deputy Chief Executive said: “Hepatitis B is a virus that spreads through the blood and bodily fluids of an infected person. It can be passed from person to person through activities such as unprotected sex or by sharing needles to inject drugs. Infected mothers can also transmit the virus to their baby during childbirth. One hundred times more infectious than HIV, Hepatitis B can have a serious impact on a person’s quality of life, and those with the disease are more likely to develop serious liver problems such as cirrhosis and cancer. This guidance means that patients with the virus will have another treatment option available to combat the problem of viral resistance to other drug therapies.”