Entecavir plus adefovir versus adefovir plus lamivudine in hepatitis B virus e antigen-positive, lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B

Background and Aim In areas of the world where tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is not marketed, adefovir (ADV) + lamivudine (LAM) is recommended and widely used for LAM‐resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study hypothesizes that entecavir (ETV) + ADV, where both components are active against LAM‐resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV), will provide greater antiviral potency than ADV + LAM where only ADV is active. Methods Open‐label, randomized trial in hepatitis B virus e antigen‐positive LAM‐experienced CHB patients with LAM resistance treated with ETV 1 mg + ADV 10 mg (n = 138), ADV + LAM 100 mg (n = 137), or ETV (n = 140). Results At week 48, there was no significant difference in the primary endpoint of HBV‐DNA