Idenix Pharmaceuticals (IDIX)

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The degree of viral suppression achieved during treatment appears to be the most important determinant of therapeutic outcomes. The overall goal of therapy in chronic hepatitis B is to reduce progression to cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation with liver failure, development of HCC, and need for liver transplantation.

Limitations of Current Guidelines on Management of Chronic Hepatitis B...

Major nongovernmental organizations devoted to the study of liver disease as well as other expert groups have developed and refined guidelines designed to aid in the management of patients with chronic hepatitis B. These guidelines address the criteria for patient selection, the objectives and timing of therapy, and the advantages and disadvantages of the available therapies. Available guidelines are either evidence-based or supplemented by expert opinion, and show the presence of a relationship between certain baseline parameters and therapeutic outcomes. However, the guidelines provide very little information on the use of on-treatment responses (other than management of resistance) to predict outcomes. Important questions regarding management during therapy remain largely unanswered: how and when should patients be monitored, what tests are most useful, and how may such information be used in decision making to optimize treatment outcomes?

http://www.natap.org/2007/HBV/082007_01.htm