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Hepatology · 2026

Hepatitis B treatment in China,
antivirals + functional cure trials.

Tenofovir / entecavir at NMPA-listed prices 60–80% below US. Functional cure clinical trials (siRNA, capsid assembly modulators, PD-1 combinations). HCC surveillance and pegylated interferon access at top hepatology centres.

Get a written quote Top hepatology centres

~84M

Chinese living with HBV

World's largest cohort · deep clinical experience

WHO 2024

$8–25 / mo

Tenofovir / entecavir

NMPA-listed pricing for first-line antivirals

NMPA 2024

Class A

Hepatology centres

PUMC, Zhongshan, Beijing You'an, Shanghai Public Health

NHC ratings

Trial pipeline

Functional cure

siRNA, ASOs, capsid modulators, immunomodulators in late-phase

NMPA registry

HCC surveillance

AFP + ultrasound

6-monthly schedule per AASLD / EASL guidance

Centre programs

Bilingual

Hepatology report

Standard discharge package + home-team handover

Service standard

Tiers & pricing

Six tiers, transparent pricing.

Workup

Diagnostic + staging

HBV DNA, HBsAg, HBeAg / anti-HBe, HBcrAg, FibroScan / FibroTest, abdominal ultrasound.

$650–1,400

Standard

First-line antiviral therapy

Tenofovir disoproxil, tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), entecavir at NMPA-listed pricing.

$8–25 / month

Selected patients

Pegylated interferon

Peg-IFN α-2a 48-week course for selected HBeAg+ low-DNA young patients.

$4,500–8,500 / course

Investigational

Functional cure trials

siRNA (bepirovirsen, JNJ-3989), capsid assembly modulators, PD-1 combinations.

Trial-dependent

Long-term

HCC surveillance program

AFP + ultrasound q6m for cirrhotic and high-risk patients per AASLD / EASL.

$280–650 / visit

Specialist

Cirrhotic complications care

Variceal screening, portal hypertension management, hepatic encephalopathy workup.

Quoted on case

Top hospitals

Six centres
open to international patients.

Beijing

Beijing You'an Hospital 北京佑安医院

Class A specialty hospital for hepatology and infectious disease · trial leader

Beijing

PUMC Hepatology 北京协和医院

Academic hepatology · diagnostic excellence · complex case program

Shanghai

Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center 上海市公共卫生临床中心

Class A specialty · large hepatitis B and C cohort · trial site

Shanghai

Zhongshan Hospital Hepatology 中山医院

China's leading hepatobiliary centre · HCC surveillance and treatment integration

Multi-city

United Family Hospitals 和睦家

JCI · routine HBV management · expat-focused English-first care

Chengdu

West China Hospital Hepatology 华西医院

Class A · regional reference · HCC + complex hepatology

Cost comparison

China vs US vs UK,
real pricing.

China
United States
United Kingdom
TDF (tenofovir disoproxil) / month
$8–$15
$300–$600
£60–£150
TAF (tenofovir alafenamide) / month
$15–$25
$1,200–$1,800
£200–£400
Entecavir / month
$8–$18
$650–$1,200
£90–£200
Pegylated interferon course (48 wk)
$4,500–$8,500
$25,000–$45,000
£8,000–£16,000
Comprehensive workup
$650–$1,400
$2,500–$5,500
£1,200–£2,500

Sources: NMPA-listed pricing 2024, AASLD published rates 2024, NHS reference cost 2024, partner-hospital itemized quotes 2024–2025. Indicative; price advantage is structural for lifelong antiviral therapy.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Why China for hepatitis B?
Three reasons: (1) Volume — China has ~84 million chronic HBV carriers (WHO 2024), the largest cohort globally, with hepatology centres operating at unmatched scale; (2) Drug pricing — first-line antivirals (tenofovir, TAF, entecavir) are NMPA-listed at $8–$25 per month vs $300–$1,500 per month in the US — a structural advantage for lifelong therapy; (3) Trial access — China has multiple late-phase functional cure trials (siRNA, capsid assembly modulators, PD-1 combinations) where Western access is limited.
What does the standard treatment look like?
Standard care follows AASLD 2018 / EASL 2017 / Chinese Society of Hepatology 2022 guidelines: HBV DNA + HBsAg + HBeAg / anti-HBe + ALT / AST + FibroScan to assess fibrosis. Indications for therapy: HBV DNA > 2,000 IU/mL with elevated ALT or significant fibrosis (F2+); cirrhosis regardless of DNA level; HCC family history with detectable DNA; HBV reactivation risk (immunosuppression). First-line: tenofovir TDF, TAF or entecavir. Goal: HBV DNA suppression, ALT normalisation, HBeAg seroconversion, and ideally HBsAg loss (functional cure).
What about functional cure?
Functional cure (HBsAg loss with sustained DNA suppression) is the major area of investigational research. China hosts multiple late-phase trials of: (1) siRNA agents (bepirovirsen / GSK-3228836; JNJ-3989; AB-729); (2) capsid assembly modulators (vebicorvir / ABI-H0731 trials); (3) PD-1 / PD-L1 combinations (toripalimab, sintilimab) for immune restoration; (4) therapeutic vaccines. Trial-eligibility screening costs $450–$950 and typically returns 2–5 protocol matches based on your HBsAg level, DNA, treatment history and fibrosis stage.
What about HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) surveillance?
Recommended for all cirrhotic HBV patients and selected non-cirrhotic high-risk patients (Asian male > 40, Asian female > 50, family history of HCC) per AASLD 2018 guidance. Standard schedule: AFP + abdominal ultrasound every 6 months. Class A hepatology centres bundle this into long-term care programs at $280–$650 per visit. If a suspicious lesion is detected, contrast-enhanced CT / MRI staging is available same-day, and HCC treatment (resection, ablation, TACE, immunotherapy) is coordinated through the same centre.
What about long-term continuity?
Lifelong antiviral therapy continuity requires home-physician handover. Options: (1) get the prescription continued at home — most major HBV antivirals are FDA / EMA / Health Canada / TGA approved; (2) maintain prescription via Chinese partner with import to home country (varies by jurisdiction — confirm with your home regulator); (3) shift to generic equivalents at home pharmacy. We provide bilingual treatment summary, recent labs and viral load history for continuity.
Should I bring my own medication or buy in China?
If you take TDF, TAF or entecavir (the three first-line agents): NMPA-listed Chinese pricing is dramatically lower than home-country pricing for most international patients. Many patients consolidate their lifelong supply during their China visit. Personal-use prescription medication is allowed in reasonable quantity (typically up to 90 days' supply per visit) with the original Chinese prescription. Confirm import regulations with your home country before relying on this.

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Send your HBV labs
for a written hepatology plan.

Upload HBV DNA, HBsAg quantitative, HBeAg, ALT and FibroScan. We return a written treatment plan from a partner hepatologist — including therapy recommendation, trial eligibility shortlist if applicable, and lifelong-supply quote.

Request a quote See cost comparison

This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice. HBV management requires individualised assessment by a qualified hepatologist. Functional cure trials are investigational with risks that may not be fully known.