Thymosin alpha-1 treatment in chronic hepatitis B

Introduction: Stimulating a successful host immune response may be a promising helpful therapy to achieve elimination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Thymosin alpha-1 (T alpha-1), as an immunomodulatory agent, can enhance T-cell response in CHB patients and has been widely studied either alone or in combination with nucleos(t)ide analogs. This editorial reviews these articles to present the efficacy of T alpha-1 in CHB. Areas covered: English and Chinese articles in MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Controlled Trial Registry, Chinese periodical full-text database of science and technology, Chinese periodical full-text database and Wan-fang database by thesis search were collected and reviewed. Expert opinion: In CHB, T alpha-1monotherapy is effective in suppressing viral replication compared with untreated control or conventional interferon. Most of the combination therapy of T alpha-1 plus either lamivudine or IFN-alpha showed better effects on HBV DNA suppression and HBeAg seroconversion. Presently, clinical studies of T alpha-1 combined with entecavir on the treatment of HBV-cirrhosis are ongoing.