Telbivudine in Adults Previously Treated in Idenix-Sponsored Telbivudine Studies

This trial is being conducted as an open-label, extended-term study for patients with chronic hepatitis B who have previously completed an Idenix-sponsored trial with telbivudine.

Patients from 6 feeder trials could be eligible to enter current study CLDT600A2303 ( NCT00142298) if they met inclusion/exclusion criteria. The feeder studies were as follows:

* CLDT600A2302 (NV-02B-007)(NCT00057265), the GLOBE study, was a Phase III, randomized, doubleblind,multi-center, 104-week, pivotal study of telbivudine vs. lamivudine in treatment of naïve patients with compensated chronic hepatitis B. CLDT600A2302/NV-02B-007 (NCT00057265) is hereafter referred to as study 2302.
* NV-02B-015 (NCT00131742) was a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, 104-week study comparing the efficacy and safety of telbivudine (600 mg/day) to lamivudine (100 mg/day) in treatment of naïve Chinese patients with compensated chronic hepatitis B. NV-02B-015 (NCT00131742) is hereafter referred to as study 015.
* CLDT600A2301 (NV-02B-011)(NCT00076336) was a Phase III, randomized double-blind, multi-center, 104-week, pivotal study of telbivudine (600 mg/day) vs. lamivudine (100 mg/day) in treatment-naïve adults with decompensated chronic hepatitis B. CLDT600A2301/NV-02B-011 (NCT00076336) is hereafter referred to as study 2301.
* NV-02B-010 (NCT00124241) was a Phase IIb, 104-week extension study of telbivudine, lamivudine or the combination of both agents in patients with chronic hepatitis B who had completed the core study NV-02B-003 (NCT00124241). NV-02B-010 (NCT00124241) is hereafter referred to as study 010.

NV-02B-003 (NCT00124241) was a Phase IIa, 52-week study of telbivudine, lamivudine or the combination of both agents in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B.

* CLDT600A2401 (NV-02B-018) (NCT00115245) was a Phase IIIb, randomized, open-label, multi-center,52-week study of telbivudine vs. adefovir dipivoxil for 24 weeks then a switch to telbivudine for another 28 weeks in treatment-naïve patients with compensated chronic hepatitis B. CLDT600A2401/NV-02B-018 (NCT00115245) is hereafter referred to as study 2401.
* CLDT600A2402 (NV-02B-019) (NCT00132652) was a Phase IIIb, randomized, open-label, multi-center, 52-week study of switching lamivudine to telbivudine vs. continued on lamivudine treatment in adults with compensated chronic hepatitis B who were previously treated with lamivudine for 3-12 months. CLDT600A2402/NV-02-019 (NCT00132652) is hereafter referred to as study 2402.

PATIENT GROUPS:

GROUP A: Patients with HBeAg (+) or HBeAg (-) compensated chronic hepatitis B who did not discontinue treatment in their previous study due to an efficacy response and required further treatment or who had met the criteria for discontinuation of treatment in their previous study due to efficacy, but were being maintained on study drug by the principal investigator. For patients treated with telbivudine who enrolled into Group A from studies 2302 and 015, the total telbivudine treatment time (starting from feeder study baseline to the end of the on-treatment period in study 2303) was 208 weeks. For patients treated with lamivudine in studies 2302/015 and enrolled into group A and for all patients in group A from studies 2401/2402/010, the total telbivudine treatment time was 104 weeks.

GROUP B: Patients with HBeAg (+) or HBeAg (-) decompensated chronic hepatitis B who did not discontinue treatment in their previous study due to an efficacy response and required further treatment. Patients treated with telbivudine in study 2301 were enrolled to group B and the total telbivudine treatment time (starting from feeder study baseline to the end of the on-treatment period in study 2303) was 208 weeks. For patients treated with lamivudine in study 2301 and enrolled into group B, the total telbivudine treatment time was 104 weeks.

GROUP C: Patients with either compensated or decompensated chronic hepatitis B, who had discontinued study drug treatment in their previous Idenix-sponsored study due to an efficacy response as recommended by protocol. Patients who were eligible for treatment discontinuation in their previous study but who were, at the principal investigators discretion, continued on study therapy, were eligible to enter this study in Group C provided their treatment was discontinued at their last visit of the previous study. The feeder studies for group C of current study were study 2302/015, 2401, 2402, and 010. For patients who enrolled into group C, total telbivudine treatment time was 104 weeks starting from the baseline of the feeder studies to their last visit of the feeder studies. Patients were enrolled to current study (study 2303) for off-treatment follow-up after the treatment discontinuation due to efficacy. Hence, patients did not receive any study drug except in case of patients who relapsed and reinitiated treatment.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient completed a previous qualifying Idenix-Sponsored trial with telbivudine
* Patient was not discontinued from previous Idenix-Sponsored study

Other protocol-defined inclusion criteria may apply

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient is pregnant or breastfeeding
* Patient is co-infected with hepatitis C, hepatitis D or HIV

Other protocol-defined exclusion criteria may apply