ABSTRACT
Chronic hepatitis B caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global public health issue. Antiviral therapy for chronic HBV infection plays a critical role, and the goal of antiviral therapy is mainly defined by virological, serological, and biochemical parameters. As the two types of antiviral drugs approved for marketing, both interferon and nucleos(t)ide analogues can alleviate liver inflammation and liver fibrosis and reduce the incidence rates of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the ideal goal of antiviral therapy is functional cure, which significantly improves the long-term outcome of chronic hepatitis B. The limitation of current treatment is that it can inhibit HBV replication, but cannot clear the virus, with low serological clearance rates of HBeAg and HBsAg. Development of new drugs with the goal of functional cure and evaluation of the synergistic and combined effects of existing drugs are important directions for HBV treatment and development.