Two hepatitis B medications available free through
Rx Outreach partnership
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The Hepatitis B Foundation and Rx Outreach, the nation's largest nonprofit, online pharmacy, connected in 2019, when Foundation staff asked Rx Outreach to add hepatitis B medications to its offerings.
The pharmacy then introduced two front-line drugs for chronic hepatitis B – generic Viread® (tenofovir) and generic Baraclude® (entecavir) – at a discounted price.
These medications now are available free to a limited number of people referred by Foundation staff to Rx Outreach, thanks to some generous donations.
To receive tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) or entecavir at no cost, patients must meet the income eligibility requirements for Rx Outreach and enroll through our website. A valid prescription is required. Read the full story here.
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Canadian scientist chosen for the 2022 Blumberg Prize |
D. Lorne Tyrrell, MD, PhD, Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and the University of Alberta, has been chosen as the recipient of the Hepatitis B Foundation's 2022 Baruch S. Blumberg Prize.
The award recognizes outstanding contributions to advance the science and medicine of hepatitis B.
Read the full story here.
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Hepatitis B and Human Rights Day |
Hepatitis B is the most common liver infection in the world. Almost 300 million people worldwide are living with chronic hepatitis B, yet there are a lot of misconceptions and myths surrounding the disease which perpetuates stigma, discrimination, inequality, and exclusion.
Read about standing up for the rights of people with hepatitis B here.
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#justB extraordinary: watch DeWayne's story |
DeWayne contracted hepatitis B when he had a blood transfusion as a child. Growing up in foster care and not having health insurance, DeWayne went without treatment for most of his life. But after getting married and becoming a dad, he found motivation to take control of his health.
DeWayne started going to the doctor, taking medication to control his hepatitis B and living a healthier lifestyle.
Watch DeWayne's story here.
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Is hepatitis B hereditary? |
Welcome to Consult Corner, where we share the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions that we receive!
This month's question: Is chronic hepatitis B hereditary?
The answer is No. But many more than one person in a family may be impacted by hepatitis B, because hepatitis B is commonly transmitted from mothers to babies due to blood exposure during childbirth. Making sure that all pregnant women are tested for hepatitis B, and giving the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine at birth can protect thousands of babies from being infected with hepatitis B.
The holidays are a special time for families to gather together, of course, but it’s also a perfect time to discuss your family’s health history. You might learn there is a family history of hepatitis B or other liver disease.
Be sure to encourage family members to get tested for hepatitis B, and have them get properly screened with all three tests in the panel: HBsAg, HBcAb total and HBsAb. That way they will know if they have a current hep B infection, have recovered from a past infection or if they need to get vaccinated and be protected against hepatitis B. In the U.S., the ACIP recently approved universal vaccination for adults under 60, so encourage testing and vaccination for your family!
We understand this is not an easy topic to discuss, but imagine the possibilities of saving your loved ones’ lives if they become protected, or if they know their hepatitis B status, manage it properly and reduce their risk of liver cancer. Start a conversation at your next family gathering!
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New "B Heppy" podcast: #justB storytellers |
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In part one of a two-part series, B Heppy chats with #justB storytellers on how they became involved in storytelling work, their diagnoses, how culture impacts hepatitis B, and misconceptions and myths.
If you missed the last episode, click here to listen to a chat with the International HBV Meeting Co-organizers Dr. Adam Ghering and Dr. Ouriania Andrisani.
You can find the podcast episodes here or anywhere you get your podcasts . AND, if you'd like to suggest a topic to be covered in B Heppy, please send an email to info@hepb.org.
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Now that the pandemic is easing, Hepatitis B Foundation staffers are returning to the field, using the proper precautions. Evangeline Wang (second from left), our public health and outreach coordinator, is seen here at a screening event in Philadelphia with peers from the Sydney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Health. |
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Stigma and discrimination report from WHA |
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The World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) released its new report on the impact of stigma and discrimination affecting people living with hepatitis B.
The Hepatitis B Foundation contributed to the paper and it features Jason, one of our #justB storytellers, along with several other important personal stories. You can find the paper here.
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People living with hepatitis D needed for advisory group
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Gilead Sciences Inc. is seeking people diagnosed with hepatitis D (HDV) who are interested in sharing their personal experiences and providing feedback as part of an advisory board. They will help the development of patient education materials, resources, and services that are intended to support, inform and empower the patient community.
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Hepatitis B Foundation's journal pick of the month |
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Ten millennia of hepatitis B virus evolution
Kocher, A. et al.
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Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been infecting humans for thousands of years and continues to be a global health problem, but its past diversity and dispersal routes are not well-understood. This study generated HBV genomic data from 137 Eurasians and Native Americans dated between ~10,500 and ~400 years ago. The researchers date the most recent common ancestor of all HBV lineages to between ~20,000 and 12,000 years ago, with the virus present in European and South American hunter-gatherers during the early Holocene. After the European Neolithic transition, Mesolithic HBV strains were replaced by a lineage likely disseminated by early farmers that prevailed throughout western Eurasia for ~4000 years, declining around the end of the 2nd millennium BCE. The only remnant of this prehistoric HBV diversity is the rare genotype G, which appears to have reemerged during the HIV pandemic. |
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Jan. 13 - Blumberg Institute Seminar: Drew Weissman, MD
Online Event
Details coming soon
Feb. 17 - Blumberg Institute Seminar: Peter Leedman, PhD
Online Event
Details coming soon
Feb. 24 - Blumberg Institute Seminar: Keith Jerome, PhD
Online Event
Details coming soon
April 1 - Hepatitis B Foundation Crystal Ball Gala, Warrington, Pa.
In-Person Event with online component
Details coming soon
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Learn more about our research and education programs at www.hepb.org
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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. |
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Hepatitis B Foundation I 3805 Old Easton Road Doylestown, PA 18902 I
215-489-4900 I info@hepb.org
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