Efficacy and Safety of Telbivudine in Treatment naïve Patients With Hepatitis B e Antigen (HBeAg)-Positive Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB)
Condition: Hepatitis B
MeSH terms: Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis
Intervention: Telbivudine (LdT); peginterferon alpha-2a
Intervention description: 600 mg orally once daily for 104 weeks.; 180 μg subcutaneous injection once a week for 52 weeks.
Intervention MeSH terms: Peginterferon alfa-2a; Telbivudine
Phase: Phase 3
Study type: Interventional
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Enrollment: 159.0
Sex: All
Minimum age: 18 Years
Maximum age: 70 Years
Healthy volunteers: No
Keywords: hepatitis B; hepatitis B Virus (HBV); chronic hepatitis B; telbivudine; peginterferon

Summary:

      To evaluate the combination of telbivudine 600 mg orally (PO) once daily and peginterferon
      alpha-2a 180 ug subcutaneous (sq) injection weekly for antiviral efficacy in comparison to
      peginterferon alpha-2a monotherapy.
    

Eligibility criteria:

        Inclusion Criteria:

        Documented Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) defined by all of the following:

          -  Clinical history compatible with CHB

          -  Detectable serum Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) at the Screening visit and at
             least 6 months prior

          -  HBeAg-positive at the Screening visit

          -  Hepatitis B 'e' Antibody (HBeAb)-negative at the Screening visit

          -  History of evidence of chronic liver inflammation,

          -  Elevated serum Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level (1.3 - 10 x upper limit of normal
             (ULN)) at the Screening visit

          -  Serum HBV DNA level ≥ 6 log10 copies/mL,

          -  Chronic liver inflammation on previous liver biopsy within the previous 24 months.

        Exclusion Criteria:

          -  Co-infection with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Hepatitis D Virus (HDV), or Human
             Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

          -  Has any of the following drug therapy:

               -  Previously been treated in a trial with telbivudine

               -  Received nucleoside or nucleotide therapy whether approved or investigational

               -  Received any immunomodulatory treatment in the 12 months before Screening for
                  this study.

               -  Has a medical condition that required prolonged or frequent use of systemic
                  acyclovir or famciclovir.

               -  Has a medical condition that requires frequent or prolonged use of systemic
                  corticosteroids although inhaled or intra-articular corticosteroids are allowed.

               -  Has a medical condition requiring the chronic or prolonged use of potentially
                  hepatotoxic drugs or nephrotoxic drugs.

               -  Is currently abusing alcohol or illicit drugs or has a history of alcohol abuse
                  illicit substance abuse within the preceding two years.

               -  Uses other investigational drugs at the time of enrollment, or within 30 days or
                  5 half-lives of enrollment, whichever is longer.

               -  Is currently receiving methadone.

          -  Patient has any of the following:

               -  History of or clinical signs/symptoms of hepatic decompensation such as ascites,
                  esophageal variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, or spontaneous bacterial
                  peritonitis.

               -  History of malignancy of any organ system, treated or untreated, within the past
                  5 years whether or not there is evidence of local recurrence or metastases, with
                  the exception of localized basal cell carcinoma of the skin. Patients with
                  previous findings suggestive of possible HCC should have the disease ruled out
                  prior to entrance into the study.

               -  One or more additional known primary or secondary causes of liver disease other
                  than hepatitis B, including steatohepatitis.

               -  History of clinical and laboratory evidence of chronic pancreatitis, or
                  demonstrates a clinical and laboratory course consistent with current
                  pancreatitis.

          -  Has laboratory values during screening visit not within normal limits.

          -  Is pregnant or breastfeeding.

          -  Is a women of child-bearing potential that is unwilling to practice birth control.