How tenofovir helps some people with HIV clear hepatitis B

Mechanisms of HBV Functional Cure During Tenofovir-based ART in HIV/HBV coinfection

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · NIH-11328348

This project looks at why some adults with both HIV and hepatitis B lose the hepatitis B surface antigen after starting tenofovir-containing HIV treatment.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM (nih funded)
Locations1 site (BIRMINGHAM, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11328348 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

If you have both HIV and hepatitis B, this work uses blood tests and small liver needle samples collected over time to learn what immune changes happen when hepatitis B seems to clear after starting tenofovir-based antiretroviral therapy. Researchers compare people with HIV/HBV coinfection to people with HBV alone and use single-cell laboratory methods to study immune cells inside the liver. The team is building on a unique cohort in Zambia where they already collected liver fine needle aspiration samples and follow people longitudinally. Findings are meant to point to immune targets that could make HBV cure therapies safer and more effective for people living with HIV.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults living with both HIV and chronic hepatitis B who are on or starting tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy and who are willing to provide blood and small liver samples are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People who only have HIV or only have hepatitis B, children, or anyone unwilling or unable to undergo blood draws or liver sampling are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit directly from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help make HBV cure approaches safer and available to people with HIV by identifying immune signals that predict or drive hepatitis B control.

How similar studies have performed: Other reports have shown that hepatitis B surface antigen can disappear after starting HBV-active ART, but using liver fine-needle samples and single-cell analyses to pinpoint the immune reasons is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

BIRMINGHAM, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.