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Summary: Background: Lipid‐lowering effect was observed during treatment with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, the metabolic features in patients switching from TDF to tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) remain unclear. Aims: To compare the impacts of switching from TDF to TAF or from entecavir to TAF on body weight and metabolic features in patients with CHB. Methods: This was a multi‐centre, prospective, observational study in patients with CHB on TDF or entecavir who switched to TAF. Baseline characteristics, lipid profile and sugar profile were determined. This study received IRB approval from each hospital. Results: We enrolled 177 patients on TDF (99) or entecavir (78) and followed them for 48 weeks after the switch to TAF. At baseline, TDF‐experienced patients had lower serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol than entecavir‐experienced patients. The switch from TDF to TAF significantly increased body weight, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, fasting glucose, glycaemic haemoglobin, insulin and insulin resistance. The switch from entecavir to TAF did not affect these measures. There was no significant difference in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk scores between groups. Conclusions: The switch from TDF to TAF was associated with weight gain, derangements of lipid profile, and increased insulin resistance in patients with CHB. Long‐term effects on these metabolic features need further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) usually recurs after curative surgical resection. Currently, no approved adjuvant therapy has been shown to reduce HCC recurrence rates. In this study, the in vivo effect of sequential combination treatment with recombinant mouse interferon-alpha (rmIFN-α) and an anti-mouse-PD1 antibody on hepatitis B virus (HBV) clearance in mice was evaluated. A Phase I clinical trial was then conducted to assess the safety, tolerability, and inhibitory activity of sequential therapy with ropeginterferon alfa-2b and nivolumab in patients with HCC recurrence who underwent curative surgery for HBV-related HCC. The animal modeling study showed that HBV suppression was significantly greater with the rmIFN-α and anti-PD1 sequential combination treatment in comparison with sole treatment with rmIFN-α or anti-PD1. In the Phase I study, eleven patients completed the sequential therapy with ropeginterferon alfa-2b every two weeks for six doses at 450 µg, followed by three doses of nivolumab every two weeks up to 0.75 mg/kg. A notable decrease in or clearance of HBV surface antigen was observed in two patients. The dose-limiting toxicity of grade 3 alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase increases was observed in one patient. The maximum tolerated dose was then determined. To date, no HCC recurrence has been observed. The treatment modality was well tolerated. These data support the further clinical development of sequential combination therapy as a post-surgery prophylactic measure against the recurrence of HBV-related HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]