B Informed > Features > Cross-Resistance Chart of Current HBV Drugs

Resistance to HBV antiviral drugs can limit which treatment options are available in the future. If HBV is resistant to one drug, it will sometimes be resistant to similar drugs in the same group. This is called “cross-resistance” and it means that some anti-HBV drugs will not work even though they have not used been used before.

* Reduced – initially the drug-resistant virus is sensitive to entecavir, but often the virus eventually becomes resistant to the drug.
** Reduced – in the lab, the virus is sensitive to the drug; clinically, it’s resistant (probably because of higher drug levels in humans).

Sources: Locarnini S. Molecular virology and the development of resistant mutants: implications for therapy. Semin Liver Dis. 2005;25 Suppl 1:9-19.
Fournier C. and Zoulim, F. Antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis B: prevention of drug resistance. Clin Liver Dis (2007) 869-892.