Extending our engagement in Africa

The Hepatitis B Foundation extended its engagement in Africa this fall with staff participating in two major, influential conferences: the Conference on Liver Disease in Africa, held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in September and the African Hepatitis Summit in Abuja, Nigeria, in October.

Following the Hepatitis Summit, Dr. Catherine Freeland of the Hepatitis B Foundation and a team of local advocates from the Hepatitis Advocacy Foundation of Delta State, led by Pharm. Prince, visited the Delta State Ministry of Health leadership. Please read more here.

The Foundation's Dr. Catherine Freeland with Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori.

Join the #GivingTuesday movement to help

raise awareness about hepatitis B

#GivingTuesday is a worldwide movement that encourages people to do good, promoting generosity and collaboration.

With almost 300 million people affected by chronic hepatitis B globally, there is an urgent need to improve awareness about the disease and liver cancer, promote stakeholder engagement and empower those impacted by hepatitis B to become advocates for their cause.

You can make a difference by giving your time, making donations, or using your voice in your local community. Together, we can create a global voice and bring about change. Chari A. Cohen, DrPH, MPH, Hepatitis B Foundation president, reminds us here that while progress has been made, more action is needed to eradicate hepatitis B.

If you share our belief that no one should die from hepatitis B, please consider supporting our storytelling program. Together, we can make a difference and help those affected by this disease. Please donate today.

2023 #justB New Storytellers

The Hepatitis B Foundation is excited to release new storyteller videos. We've partnered with StoryCenter to produce the 2023 #justB storytelling videos. The videos feature seven individuals from the U.S. and Canada who have been impacted by hepatitis B and D. The stories cover topics such as childhood infection, stigma, discrimination and the importance of early diagnosis. The storytellers' bravery inspires others to speak out and advocate for hepatitis B and D awareness, prevention, screening and care. 

Check out our storytelling website: https://www.hepbstories.org/ and click on the links below to view our featured storytellers.

• Julie
• LM
• PMF

• Rav
• Rebekah

• TD
• Zaya

Check out this new clinical trial opportunity! GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is launching two phase 3 studies called B Well-1 and B-Well-2, which will test an experimental drug (bepirovirsen) as a potential treatment for hepatitis B.

Phase 2 clinical trial results showed that 24-weeks of treatment with bepirovirsen resulted in reduced HBsAg and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA. To participate in the new phase 3 B Well studies, people need to be at least 18 years old (although the minimum age requirement may be higher in some countries); have a documented hepatitis B infection for the last six months; and have been on antiviral therapy with a nucleoside/nucleotide analogue (NA, such as tenofovir or entecavir) for at least 6 months.

In the phase 3 B Well study, participants will be randomized into different study groups. Some people will be given bepirovirsen to add to their current NA, to see if this results in greater reduction of HBsAg and HBV DNA – and to see if this reduction is sustained after treatment ends. Some people will receive a placebo. The study is being run in many countries around the world. To find out more information and see if you might be eligible, please visit www.bwellstudy.com. 

NIH scientist conducting influential hepatitis research to receive 2024 Baruch S. Blumberg Prize

T. Jake Liang, MD

Webinar: Hepatitis B advocacy in Africa

New Blog: Highlighting the relationship between

hepatitis B and liver cancer

Last month we celebrated Liver Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of #LCAM, the Hepatitis B Foundation is launching new hepatitis B and liver cancer resources that were informed by people with lived experience. If you want to learn more about the project behind these new materials and hear from some of the community members who participated in this project, read our new blog post! Learn about the effort that went into the creation of the new educational resources.

Learn more:

www.livercancerconnect.org

Join us for a webinar where we will hear from expert researcher and clinician Dr. Robert J. Wong of Stanford University as he discusses his paper on the significant clinical and economic burden of hepatitis delta in the U.S.

New Guidance: clinical implementation of adult universal hepatitis B vaccination & screening recommendations

This document is intended to aid clinicians in implementing the new adult hepatitis B recommendations. It contains information on the new hepatitis B recommendations, downloadable resources, and connections to helpful patient and clinical resources. 

We're extremely grateful to the six hearty runners who completed the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon raising funds for the Hepatitis B Foundation's Storytellers program and their supporters. They brought in more than $26,000, which far exceeds our goal.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the #Run4HepB team: Aaron Rak, Frank Zeng, Kelsey Rob, Lou Kassa, Joseph Gedeon and Megan Romanovich.

It's not too late to contribute to our cause. Visit our website to make a donation today. We are grateful for your support.

The Impact of Living With Chronic Hepatitis B on Quality of Life:

Implications for Clinical Management

Ibrahim Y, Umstead M, Wang S, Cohen C.



[Link to article]

Sage Journals, Journal of Patient Experience

2023;10. doi:10.1177/23743735231211069

Living with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has physical, social, and emotional impacts that often negatively affect patients’ quality of life. These impacts are not usually captured during routine care. This article presents information on the impact of living with CHB and the importance of integrating health-related quality-of-life assessment into CHB care. Using a global online survey, people ages ≥18 living with CHB were asked about physical, social, and worry impacts. Of 1707 respondents, most were male (67%), < 45 years of age (81%); and 52% identified as Black. Of all participants, 66% reported physical impact, 55% reported social impact, and 49% reported worry impact of living with CHB. Those from Africa and the Western Pacific were most likely to report physical impact. Younger participants (18-45) and those not on treatment were significantly more likely to report physical and social impact. People living with CHB are impacted physically, socially, and emotionally, varied by demographic factors and disease experience. These impacts should be captured and addressed as part of routine CHB care.

New public health staffer at the Hepatitis B Foundation

Our newest team member is Michelle Liu, a public health coordinator.

She's a passionate advocate for public health with a background in research and program management, specializing in liver cancer awareness and advocacy. She holds a Master of Public Health degree, giving her a solid foundation in epidemiology, health behavior and health promotion.

Michelle Liu

Her career has been dedicated to empowering patients and caregivers by sharing their stories and experiences. She firmly believes that storytelling is a powerful tool for raising awareness and driving positive change. Through her work, she has had the privilege of working closely with individuals affected by hepatitis B and liver cancer, amplifying their voices and shedding light on the challenges they face.

April 5: Hepatitis B Foundation Gala

Sept. 11-15: International HBV Meeting, Chicago