ArticleHepatology international2025
Assessing pricing and affordability of HBV treatment in Asia-Pacific region: a barrier to elimination.
Article in Hepatology international, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- APASL clinical practice guidelines on the management of chronic hepatitis B infection: a 2026 update.Hepatology international · 2026Guideline
- Antiviral therapies are associated with reduced mortality but under-utilized in patients with viral hepatocellular carcinoma: a multinational REAL-HCC study.Hepatology international · 2026Article
- BEAT-B Study (Behavior, Aspirations, and Treatment Needs): A Mixed-Methods Study of Patient Values, Preferences, and Barriers to Care Among People Living With Chronic Hepatitis B in South and Southeast Asia.Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology · 2026Article
- Assessing pricing and affordability of HBV treatment in Japan.Hepatology international · 2026Article
- Reply to letter to the editor "assessing pricing and affordability of HBV treatment in Japan".Hepatology international · 2026Article
- Article
- [APASL clinical practice guidelines on the management of chronic hepatitis B infection: a 2026 update].Zhonghua gan zang bing za zhi = Zhonghua ganzangbing zazhi = Chinese journal of hepatology · 2026Article
- Successful Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Rechallenge After Sintilimab-Induced Pancreatitis: A Case Report.International medical case reports journal · 2026Article
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13 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe Asia-Pacific (AP) region carries a substantial burden of HBV. Affordable HBV treatment is crucial to attain WHO's elimination goal. This study assesses the pricing and affordability of HBV treatment in AP.
methodsA survey conducted among APASL members from 2 Aug to 30 Oct, 2023, gathered data on antiviral HBV drugs, treatment costs covering stages of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), compensated cirrhosis (CC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver transplant, and monitoring expenses. Drug costs for TDF and ETV were compared to international reference price (TDF: $30, ETV: $36 per person per year), generating a median price ratio (MPR) where MPR < 1 indicated an acceptable local price. Affordability was evaluated by comparing yearly CHB treatment cost to yearly minimum wage in each country/area, all converted to 2023 US$.
resultsETV costs ranged from $42 per person per year in Pakistan to $2640 in Malaysia, while TDF costs varied from $12 in mainland China to $2446 in Hong Kong. Almost all MPR exceeded 1. Affordability of HBV treatment varied, with CHB patients in Australia paying 1.4% of minimum yearly wage to get 1 year CHB treatment, in contrast to Myanmar's 78.6%. Affordability disparities were also evident for patients with CC, HCC, and liver-transplant needs, though monitoring costs were generally affordable.
conclusionsDespite patent expiration and availability of low-cost generics for TDF and ETV, HBV medication costs in Asia-Pacific region remain high. CHB treatment is generally unaffordable for patients, posing a significant barrier to HBV elimination in this endemic region.
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