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Functional Cure for HBV
Realizing the Dream of a Functional Cure for Chronic Hepatitis B: A Patient Perspective

Released: April 16, 2026

Jennifer Wild
Jennifer Wild, MS, RN, OCN
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Key Takeaways
  • HBV infection is often undiagnosed until the later stages of disease, especially among foreign-born Asian Americans.
  • Effective therapies for HBV are available, but for some, the treatment landscape is shifting toward the goal of functional cure, defined as undetectable HBV DNA and sustained loss of HBsAg.

Being diagnosed with any chronic infectious disease can feel like carrying a shameful secret. I was 22 years old and had just learned of my chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection through occupational health screening for my first registered nurse job. Questions swirled around my mind: Could I still work in my chosen profession? Would it have a negative impact on dating or having children? Would I die from it?

The Unseen Burden of Chronic HBV Infection
Up to 90% of people with chronic HBV infection worldwide (and 50% in the United States) are unaware that they are infected. I received my first HBV vaccine at the age of 4 months, just 3 weeks after my arrival to the United States, following my adoption from Korea. But later, during routine screening for nursing school, my hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAg) titers were nonreactive. My family physician, the same one who gave me all my vaccines, told me not to worry. Many Asian people do not have HBV immunity, he said.

Now I know that it not true. It is not because of an inability to mount a vaccine response. It is because of high rates of preexisting chronic infection, transmitted from an unknowing parent to a vulnerable newborn. Asian Americans represent nearly 60% of chronic HBV infections in the United States, with an estimated prevalence of between 4% and 10% among Asian-born immigrants.

In no way do I resent our family physician. Even had he known then to test me for HBsAg, it would not have changed anything. However, this experience inspired me to use my nursing career to become involved in educating healthcare professionals about this chronic disease. Receiving this news and being advised on next steps would have been less traumatic coming from my lifelong primary care provider, and these healthcare professionals have a vital role not only in vaccination but also in screening for HBV.

When I learned of my diagnosis, I beelined to the medical sciences library at work. How many people have what I have? How did I get it? At first, coming to terms with my diagnosis was a lonely experience. I felt like I had to keep it a secret and feared the consequences of telling anyone. I was even afraid to tell my parents because I knew they would feel guilty, even though it wasn’t their fault.

Now, as a registered nurse specialized in hepatobiliary medical oncology, I know firsthand just how many people like me go undiagnosed, setting them up to receive 2 diagnoses at once: chronic HBV infection and advanced-stage hepatocellular cancer (HCC). Up to 25% of people chronically infected with HBV as infants or young children will die of HCC. It crushes me to be a nurse navigator for people my age, with small children, who will die of HCC or cirrhosis.

In sharing their pain, I think of another question I researched in the medical sciences library all those years ago, written in a gray notebook: Is there a cure?

Ending the Cycle
The present prospect of a functional cure, which leads to undetectable HBV DNA and sustained loss of HBsAg, fills me with shock and cautious optimism. I have seen many of my patients with cancer through clinical trials that eventually led to new FDA-approved standard-of-care therapies, but I never think of something like that applying to me. It feels like a way of rewriting history and the future and of ending the cycle of generations of chronic infection. It feels more realistic and less like a dream than ever. [Coder link to: https://deceraclinical.com/education/program/hbv-innovations/48734]

To learn more, join me and an expert panel at our upcoming Digestive Disease Week program, titled “HBV Live: A Deep Dive Into the Evolving Landscape of Hepatitis B Management,” on Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM CT. You can join us in person or online.

Your Thoughts
What are your most pressing questions on HBV functional cure research? What data or trial results are you most excited to see at the Digestive Disease Week conference? Leave a comment to join the discussion!

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