MONDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Bristol-Myers Squibb said
Monday its liver drug Baraclude (entecavir) has received expanded
approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat
chronic hepatitis B in adults with decompensated liver disease, a
form of severe liver damage.
Baraclude was first approved in 2005 for adults with compensated
liver disease, a less severe form of damage that means the liver
still functions properly, the drug maker said in a news
release.
Decompensated liver disease, by contrast, refers to failure of
the liver to maintain adequate function, commonly due to severe
scarring. Chronic hepatitis B often causes chronic liver
inflammation, which can lead to decompensated liver disease, the
drug maker said.
About 1.25 million Americans are infected with chronic hepatitis
B, Bristol said.
More information
The U.S. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
has more about
hepatitis B.