July 2021
World Hepatitis Day is July 28, birthday of Dr. Baruch Blumberg
People and organizations across the globe who are concerned about viral hepatitis observe World Hepatitis Day on July 28 every year. That date was chosen because it's the birthday of the late Dr. Baruch S. Blumberg (1925-2011), who won the Nobel Prize for discovering the hepatitis B virus and for whom our research arm, the Blumberg Institute, is named. In advance of World Hepatitis Day, the Hepatitis B Foundation is planning a virtual advocacy week beginning on July 21. Please read more below and follow our Week of Action activities on the Foundation's social media!

Baruch S. Blumberg, MD, DPhil
Week of action in observance of World Hepatitis Day
Join the Hepatitis B Foundation and Hep B United for a week of action leading up to World Hepatitis Day! 

From July 21 to July 28, we will be challenging advocates to complete a list of actions to raise awareness about hepatitis B, highlight its impact around the world, and help drive progress towards elimination. Action items will include sharing hep B information and resources on social media, reaching out to legislators and government officials to provide them with hep B educational materials, promoting our advocacy priorities, sharing your hepatitis B story and more.

By taking action and participating, you will also be eligible for a chance to win a $50 gift card! Six gift cards will be awarded following the Week of Action.

You can learn how to participate during a kickoff call July 19 at 4 p.m. EDT. If you can't make the call, afterward you'll be able to access the recording here.
World Hepatitis Day podcast to feature HepBcommunity.org
"B Heppy" is the name of our brand-new podcast series and the World Hepatitis Day edition will feature Thomas Tu, PhD, founder of HepBcommunity.org, a new global forum dedicated to supporting those living with and affected by hep B.

Previous episodes include interviews with Joan Block and Jan Witte, two of our founders, talking about our organization's 30-year history. We also have Dr. Chari Cohen's excellent Hep B 101 presentation, which is highly educational and understandable. You can find the podcast here.
Nearly 300 million people globally are living with hepatitis B, so...
Nearly 300 million people worldwide are living with hepatitis B, which is why we named our new awareness campaign 300 Million Reasons.

It's an initiative to improve awareness about hepatitis B and liver cancer worldwide, to promote engagement of key stakeholders, and to empower people impacted by hepatitis B to become vocal advocates. You can learn more, look into our social media toolkit and sign up for the Hepatitis B Advocacy Action Center here.
Discrimination Registry grows with a worldwide response
We launched the world’s first initiative to track and analyze discrimination against people living with hepatitis B this spring, and our Discrimination Registry has gotten off to a strong start.

More than 140 people have completed responses from around the world, including Ghana, China, Australia and the U.S.

You can use the information on our site to help advocate for yourself, report your experience with discrimination on the Hepatitis B Foundation's Discrimination Registry or contact the Hepatitis B Foundation at discrimination@hepb.org or 215-489-4900 if you need additional assistance.
Want to help close the gaps in health care disparities?
As World Hepatitis Day approaches, we have an opportunity to reflect on why significant inequities in health care still exist for different communities. In the U.S., the All of Us Research Program is working to address these by recruiting one million people from different communities around the country who are willing to provide health data and answer questions about their lifestyles.

The information collected in this highly collaborative, secure project will be used to help doctors make decisions about healthcare -- including prevention, diagnosis and treatment -- that will be based on individual people and communities, rather than on general information about the “average” patient.

The program is especially looking to recruit members of different Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, since only 5% of participants currently identify as AAPI. You can be a part of changing the future of health care for your family, your community and future generations! Please click here to learn more! Also, please join us for a webinar on All of Us and how it relates to World Hepatitis Day on Friday, July 23, at 4 p.m. EDT (10 a.m. HST). Register here!
World Health releases first-ever global guidance for country validation of viral hepatitis B and C elimination
The WHO has released new guidance for countries to validate their hepatitis B and C elimination plans. The guidance provides countries with ways to measure their progress towards elimination targets for perinatal (mother to child) hepatitis B transmission and for hepatitis B and C as public health threats. Please read more here.
B-Together, a new clinical trial, is now enrolling participants
GlaxoSmithKline is launching a clinical trial, "B-Together," to study how two drugs (GSK3228836 and Pegasys) might work together to treat chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Researchers hope to find new treatments that could be more effective and lead to positive results that last long after the treatment ends.

You may be eligible to participate in this trial if you are at least 18-years old, have been living with documented CHB for at least six months, and have also been receiving stable nucleos(t)ide treatment (not telbivudine) with no changes for at least six months prior to screening and no planned changes for the duration of the study (79 weeks). This trial is ongoing in the UK, Spain, Russia, Poland, Italy, Korea, Japan, China, the U.S., Canada and South Africa. To learn more and check your eligibility to participate, click here.
Health care providers: Upcoming complimentary CME workshop!
Robert Gish, MD, medical director for the Hepatitis B Foundation, and Aekata Shah, DO, will deliver an accredited one-hour, free, CME virtual workshop. You'll hear recommendations for hepatitis B virus (HBV) testing, best practices for patient education and counseling, treatment considerations for patients with chronic HBV and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk, screening and surveillance.

Patient advocates also will discuss perspectives from the patient community on the challenges they face regarding HBV testing and treatment.

Space is limited. More details are here.
Hepatitis B Foundation's journal pick of the month
Tenofovir reduces COVID-19 severity among patients with chronic hepatitis B
Lens S, Miquel M, Mateos-Munoz B, Garcia-Samaniego J, Forms X
Journal of Hepatology  November, 2020
At a presentation at the recent International Liver Congress, an interesting finding in the connection between treatment of chronic hepatitis b and COVID-19 infection was presented. Beatriz Mateos Munoz, PhD, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, University of Alcala, Madrid, conducted a study to compare two antiretroviral regimes for those with chronic hepatitis B to the incidence and severity of COVID-19. Of the two medications studied, Tenofovir showed the most promising results in aiding patients against COVID-19.
Read more here.
Free research seminar series continues online
The Blumberg Institute, which is our research arm, has a strong lineup of prominent scientists in hepatitis B and liver diseases for its online Distinguished Speaker Seminars. The series is free-of-charge and open to anyone interested (registration is required).

On July 22 at 11 a.m. EDT, Philip S. Low, PhD, will discuss. "Targeted Immunotherapies for Viral Diseases.” You can register here.

On July 29 at 11 a.m. EDT, Randall Hyer, MD, PhD, MPH, global vice president, vaccines, Moderna, will speak on, "Getting rid of COVID-19." Read more here.

Upcoming seminars are listed on the Institute's website, where you can find recordings of prior Blumberg Research Seminars.
Patients are invited to join us for a patient forum this fall
A patient forum, hosted by the Hepatitis B Foundation, is set for Sept. 30 during the HBV International Meeting. The forum will facilitate engaging conversations among hepatitis B communities, particularly patients and the doctors, nurses, public health professionals and scientists participating in the influential International HBV Meeting. The goal is to fast-track an HBV cure and to eliminate stigma and discrimination. More info is here.
For World Hepatitis Day, Find Your Why!
Celebrate World Hepatitis B Day on July 28 by asking yourself an important question: “Why should I give to The Hepatitis B Foundation?” Your why may be the nearly 300 million people living with Hepatitis B, or maybe a person you love who has the disease. Your why may be the need to fight the ever-present stigma those with hepatitis B face or the need to find a cure. Or maybe you understand the need for more research and better treatment options for those living with hepatitis B. Please click here.
TEAM UP for Hep B and help us make Hepatitis B history!
Are you running a marathon, a half marathon or a 10k in the coming months? Your participation can honor our 30th Anniversary by raising funds and awareness.

You’ll be running miles for life while making a difference in the lives of those affected by hepatitis B. While we can’t provide you with an official marathon entry this year, we hope to become an official charity partner in the next year or two. These types of events will help us get there!

We ask that you raise funds, but  you won’t be tied to huge fundraising requirements for 2021. A $500 minimum is all it takes. And you’ll get some cool TEAM UP for Hep B swag and lots of guidance, advice, and tips to help you succeed. Click here to complete our TEAM UP for Hep B application today.
Sept. 26-30
International HBV Meeting on the
Molecular Biology of Hepatitis B Viruses
Toronto

Nov. 2-4
Hep B United Summit
Details pending

Nov. 4
Regional Biotechnology Conference
Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center
Doylestown, Pa.
Details pending

Nov. 10
International Workshop on HBV Cure
Toronto
Learn more about our research and education programs at www.hepb.org
The Hepatitis B Foundation is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure and improving the quality of life for those affected by hepatitis B worldwide. Our commitment includes funding focused research, promoting disease awareness, supporting immunization and treatment initiatives, and serving as the primary source of information for patients and their families, the medical and scientific community, and the general public.
Hepatitis B Foundation I 3805 Old Easton Road Doylestown, PA 18902 I
215-489-4900 I info@hepb.org