Design and evaluation of hepatitis B virus inhibitors

Antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis B remains a major clinical problem w orldwide. The design of new nucleoside analogs that inhibit hepatitis B vir us (HBV) replication allowed their evaluation in in vitro and in vivo exper imental models of HBV infection. This research has led to the discovery of the anti-HBV activity of lamivudine and its approval for the therapy of chr onic hepatitis B. However, due to the development of viral resistance, stra tegies based on the combination of new inhibitors of HBV replication with i mmune modulatory approaches are urgently required.