Hepatology · HBV · 2026
Tenofovir & entecavir
for chronic Hepatitis B.
First-line HBV antivirals at NMPA-listed generic pricing — TAF $15/month, TDF and entecavir from $5/month. Workup, FibroScan, viral load, liver-disease monitoring and bilingual report at China’s reference hepatology centres.
~75M
Chronic HBV adults in China
Largest national HBV cohort globally
WHO 2024
~$5
Generic TDF / month
vs ~$300/month US generic
Hospital pharmacy quotes
~$15
Brand Vemlidy (TAF) / month
vs ~$1,800/month US list
NMPA-listed pricing
First-line
TAF · TDF · Entecavir
Per AASLD / EASL / Chinese 2022 guidelines
International guidelines
FibroScan
Fibrosis staging
Standard at Class A hepatology centres
International standard
Q6–12M
Routine monitoring
Viral load + LFTs + ultrasound on AASLD/EASL schedule
International guidelines
Tiers & pricing
Six pathways, transparent pricing.
First-visit workup
Hepatology consult, full HBV serology, viral load, LFTs, kidney panel, FibroScan, ultrasound, AFP, bilingual report.
$450–850
First 3-month supply
Workup + 3-month antiviral supply (generic TDF / entecavir / Vemlidy at hospital pharmacy).
+$15–60
Annual re-evaluation
FibroScan + viral load + ultrasound + AFP + brief consult. Recommended yearly minimum.
$300–500
Advanced liver imaging
Contrast-enhanced liver MRI or multi-phase CT for indeterminate ultrasound findings, read by hepatology-experienced radiologist.
$450–950
Cirrhosis MDT
Multi-disciplinary review for compensated / decompensated cirrhosis including transplant evaluation pathway.
$650–1,400
Functional cure trials
siRNA, ASO, capsid inhibitors, therapeutic vaccines — multiple phase-2/3 trials in NMPA registry.
$450–950 screen
Top centres
Where international patients
get HBV care.
Beijing 302 Hospital (Fifth Medical Center, PLA General) 解放军总医院第五医学中心
National infectious disease and liver disease reference centre · highest HBV volume in China
Renji Hospital 仁济医院
Class A teaching · large hepatology service · MDT cirrhosis programs · transplant centre
Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University 中山大学附属第三医院
Class A · national reference for infectious disease and hepatology · long-term HBV cohort
Huashan Hospital 华山医院
Class A · strong infectious disease and hepatology · cirrhosis MDT · transplant capable
FAQ
HBV antivirals in China — answered.
- Why China for chronic Hepatitis B antiviral therapy?
- Three reasons: (1) China hosts approximately 75 million chronic HBV-infected adults — the largest national HBV cohort globally — and Class A teaching hospitals run high-volume hepatology services with deep first-line antiviral experience; (2) tenofovir and entecavir are off-patent in China with multiple NMPA-approved generics manufactured to GMP standards — generic tenofovir disoproxil costs ~$5/month, brand-name Vemlidy (TAF) ~$15/month vs ~$1,800/month US; (3) long-term complications and cirrhosis management programs at major centres are world-class given the high HBV burden.
- Which antiviral is right for me?
- Per AASLD and EASL guidelines, first-line monotherapy is one of: tenofovir alafenamide (TAF, Vemlidy) — preferred in patients > 60, with bone or kidney concerns; tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) — older, generic, equally effective, mild bone/kidney signal long-term; or entecavir — equally effective, requires no nucleoside-naïve concern. Choice depends on age, kidney function (eGFR), bone density, prior antiviral exposure, and pregnancy status. The hospital hepatologist will choose based on your full case.
- What does the workup involve?
- Standard 2–3-day pathway at a Class A hepatology centre: hepatology consult; HBV serology (HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb, anti-HBc); HBV DNA PCR (quantitative viral load); HBV genotype if treatment-naive; full liver panel (ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, bilirubin, albumin, INR); kidney function (eGFR, urinalysis, urine protein/creatinine ratio); transient elastography (FibroScan) for fibrosis stage; abdominal ultrasound for liver-disease progression monitoring; HIV and HCV co-infection screen. Add-ons by indication: contrast MRI for indeterminate ultrasound findings; bone density (DEXA) before TDF.
- What does it cost?
- Indicative all-in: 2-day hepatology workup with FibroScan + viral load + ultrasound + first 3 months of generic tenofovir + bilingual report — $450–850. Brand Vemlidy (TAF) variant: add ~$30 over 3 months. Refills: generic TDF ~$5/month, generic entecavir ~$5/month, brand Vemlidy ~$15/month, all dispensed by hospital pharmacy. 6-month follow-up labs (viral load + LFTs) at the same centre or remotely with home physician: $80–180.
- How long do I need to take it? Can I stop?
- Most chronic HBV patients require long-term, often life-long therapy. Per AASLD 2018 and EASL 2017 guidelines, treatment discontinuation is considered only after sustained HBeAg seroconversion with consolidation, or HBsAg loss — and even then with close monitoring for relapse. Treatment-stopping decisions should be made by a hepatologist based on viral kinetics, fibrosis stage, and patient factors. We do not recommend stopping antivirals without specialist guidance — relapse can trigger severe hepatitis flare.
- Can I bring medication home? Can I refill remotely?
- Yes — tenofovir and entecavir are non-controlled prescription medications and most countries permit personal-use import of a 90-day supply with original labelling and a physician’s letter. We provide bilingual prescription, English drug-info sheet, and physician’s letter for customs. Long-term refill workflow: we coordinate with your home hepatologist for prescription continuity. Some patients choose to return annually for in-person re-evaluation (FibroScan + ultrasound + viral load), which is bundled at $300–500.
Want a written HBV-care quote
in 48 hours?
Send your most recent HBV serology, viral load and any prior treatment. We return a workup-and-supply quote — including which centre, which antiviral, and what 12-month care looks like.
For information only. Not medical advice. Antiviral decisions for chronic HBV must be made by a hepatologist based on your individual case. Stopping antivirals without specialist supervision can trigger severe hepatitis flare.