Peg-interferon ADDed to an Ongoing Nucleos(t)Ide Based Treatment in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B to Induce Decrease of HBs-Antigen

A Prospective, Randomised, Open-label Phase IIb Clinical Trial Assessing the Effect of Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a (Pegasys®)180 μg Once Weekly for 48 Weeks in Addition to an Ongoing Nucelos(t)Ide Based Treatment on Quantitative HBsAg Levels in Patients With Chronic HBeAg-negative Hepatitis B

A prospective, randomised, open-label phase IIb clinical trial assessing the effect of pegylated interferon alfa-2a(Pegasys®) 180 μg once weekly for 48 weeks added to an ongoing nucleos(t)ide based treatment in patients with chronic HBeAg-negative hepatitis B

The primary objective of the trial is to investigate whether the add-on of pegylated interferon alfa-2a to a continued treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogues increases the percentage of patients who have significant decrease (≥ 1log10) of HBs antigen after 48 weeks.

170 Patients with chronic hepatitis B, HBe antigen negative, already being treated with an oral antiviral regimen and having a nondetectable viral load for at least 12 months are included.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Chronic hepatitis B, HBe antigen negative
• treatment with a stable oral antiviral treatment (not containing telbivudine) and a fully suppressed viral load for at least 12 months (below limit of detection in conventional HBV-PCR assays, i.e. <116 IU / ml).
• 18-70 ys
• willingness and ability to give informed consent and to follow study procedures
• willingness to use adequate contraception

Exclusion Criteria:

• contraindications against treatment with pegylated interferon, e.g. depression, uncontrolled epilepsy, autoimmune diseases, pregnancy, leukocytopenia or thrombocytopenia at screening, etc.
• active alcohol or drug abuse
• preexisting polyneuropathy