RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver. It is very common and very easy to catch. The virus spreads through blood and body fluids like semen or saliva. You can get it from sharing razors, toothbrushes, or needles. Mothers can also pass it to babies during birth. You cannot get it from hugging, coughing, or sharing food.

The big problem with hepatitis B is that it can become chronic. This means the virus stays in the body for life. Over time, it slowly damages the liver. Many people do not feel sick at first. That is why, doctors call hepatitis B a “silent killer.” Only 13% of the 240 million people living with it know they have it. If untreated, it can lead to liver scarring, liver failure, or liver cancer.

Right now, there is no complete cure for chronic hepatitis B. Doctors use antiviral pills to control the virus. These pills are cheap and safe, but patients must take them for life. Another treatment is interferon, which works better but has tough side effects. With current medicine, only about 3% of patients reach a “functional cure” after 8 to 10 years. That means the virus is under control without drugs.

Scientists may have found a better option. A new drug called bepirovirsen was tested in 1,838 adults across 29 countries. The results were published on May 28. Patients took the new drug once a week for six months, along with their normal pills. About 1 in 5 people reached a functional cure. This means their immune system could control the virus for at least six months without any medicine.

Bepirovirsen works in a new way. It blocks the virus from making proteins and helps the immune system fight back. It seems to “wake up” special white blood cells that attack the virus. The drug worked best for people who already had low levels of the virus. However, it was not tested in people with liver damage, HIV, or severe disease.

This breakthrough gives hope to millions of people. Experts say it is the closest we have come to a cure. But, there are still challenges. The drug may have side effects and might be expensive. It also needs to be tested more. Companies are asking health agencies to approve it later this year.

For now, doctors say the most important steps are still the same. We have a safe vaccine that stops hepatitis B. We also have simple blood tests to find it early. If people get diagnosed, get care, and take medicine, liver cancer can be prevented. As one expert said, “This does not have to remain a silent epidemic.”

Source : Nat GEo Health