Hepatitis B drugs underused despite potential to save millions, says Lancet study

New Delhi: Hepatitis B medications are severely underutilized, and initiating early treatment could save millions of lives, according to a new study published in The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is responsible for over 3,000 deaths each day, more than two people every minute. Among those who develop chronic HBV infections, an estimated 20 to 40 per cent could die without treatment.

Despite the availability of safe, effective, and affordable medicines, less than 3 per cent of those infected are currently receiving treatment, the researchers said.

“These medications are good drugs that are being badly underused,” said John Tavis, Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. “If we get people on medication earlier, the net disease and death rate is going to be much less.”

The study stressed that early treatment not only slows disease progression but also helps prevent long-term liver damage, which can lead to liver cancer or failure after decades of chronic infection.

In addition to its physical toll, hepatitis B also causes emotional, psychological, and social distress. Tavis pointed out that most HBV infections are passed from mother to child during childbirth, often without the mother’s knowledge, adding to the emotional burden of the disease.

“The stress of learning that you passed along a deadly illness to your baby is unimaginable,” he said.

Although HBV is not transmitted through casual contact, many patients face stigma in their communities.

The researchers underscored that the wider use of available drugs could reduce liver cancer cases by up to 75 per cent, significantly lowering global mortality.

“That's a big impact, saving millions of lives over time,” Tavis added.