Study Design of Sequential Treatment with SB 9200 Followed by ETV or of Sequential Treatment with ETV Followed by SB 9200 in Chronic WHV Carrier Woodchucks.

<p>Two groups of 5 woodchucks each were treated once daily, orally either with SB 9200 (30 mg/kg/day) or ETV (0.5 mg/kg/day). Group 1 received ETV for 4 weeks followed by SB 9200 for 12 weeks. Group 2 received SB 9200 for 12 weeks followed by ETV for 4 weeks. WHV DNA, WHsAg and anti-WHs were determined weekly in serum. Activity of liver enzymes was determined in serum collected at pretreatment (week -2 and T₀) and then every 4 weeks throughout the study. Host immune response (IR) gene expression was analyzed in whole blood collected at pretreatment (week -1 and T₀), at the end of ETV treatment (week 4: Group 1; week 16: Group 2), during SB 9200 treatment (week 6: Group 2; week 10: Group 1), at the end of SB 9200 treatment (week 12: Group 2; week 16: Group 1), during follow-up (week 20), and at the end of the study (week 24). WHV nucleic acids, WHV antigens, liver disease progression markers, and host IR gene expression were determined in liver biopsy samples collected at pretreatment (week -1), at the end of ETV treatment (week 4: Group 1; week 16: Group 2), at the end of SB 9200 treatment (week 12: Group 2; week 16: Group 1), during follow-up (week 20), and at the end of the study (week 24).