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Hepatitis BDecember 2024Summary reviewed May 2026

A New Injection Plus Immune Booster Cleared Hepatitis B in 1 of 4 Patients

Piranga tested xalnesiran, a small interfering RNA that silences hepatitis B viral genes, alone or with an immune booster in 281 adults with chronic hepatitis B already suppressed on standard pills. The combination with pegylated interferon cleared the surface antigen in roughly 1 in 4.

What the trial was testing

The Piranga enrolled 281 patients with hepatitis b. The study was sponsored by Hoffmann-La Roche and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.

It was initial testing (phase 2). Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.

What the results showed

23% cleared the hepatitis B surface antigen on xalnesiran plus interferon.

New England Journal of Medicine · 2024 · NCT04225715

These findings — that cleared hepatitis B surface antigen 24 weeks after xalnesiran plus pegylated interferon — were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and represent the headline result of the study.

Researchers tracked outcomes across 281 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.

What this means for patients

For patients with hepatitis b, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.

What you can do now

Xalnesiran is still in development and not yet FDA-approved. Standard chronic hepatitis B suppression with daily entecavir or tenofovir remains the FDA-approved cornerstone of treatment. Ask a liver specialist about whether you qualify for ongoing clinical trials.

Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.