Viral hepatitis— hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV) — affects more than 320 million people worldwide, with 90 percent of infections concentrated in low- and middle-income countries. The disease leads to significant liver damage, liver cancer, and liver failure. Although HCV is curable in more than 95 percent of patients with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), only seven percent of those infected receive treatment. Many factors contribute to this gap, including limited awareness of HCV, lack of public screening and treatment programs, and historically high costs of care. Similarly, HBV is vaccine-preventable, yet impacts more than 250 million people worldwide. In low- and middle-income countries, only a fraction of those in need receive the vaccine as infants or treatment as adults.

To help prevent new HBV infections, we are partnering with Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, as well as governments, to organize programs to administer the HBV birth dose more effectively. We are leveraging existing relationships with national HIV, HCV and maternal health/antenatal care programs to support the integration of HBV diagnosis and treatment within already established systems.