WASHINGTON(AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for thetreatment of chronic hepatitis B, the drug manufacturer said Wednesday.
The drug, entecavir, is taken orally andis designed to work by preventing the virus that causes the illness fromreproducing.
The chronicform of hepatitis B can permanently damage the liver and lead to cirrhosis andliver cancer. Entecavir is made by Bristol-Myers Squibb and will be sold underthe trade name Baraclude. The company said it could be available in earlyApril.
