Revovir is a Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NRTI). It exerts anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) effects by inhibiting DNA polymerase, the enzyme that is necessary for the virus to replicate. Clinical studies have shown that a once-daily oral dose of Revovir not only reduces the amount of HBV DNA, but also normalises alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in patients experiencing deterioration in liver function caused by chronic hepatitis B.
Revovir was approved in the Philippines in February 2009 and it is indicated for the inhibition of virus replication in chronic hepatitis B patients (HBeAg-positive or HBeAg-negative) with evidence of active viral replication and elevations in serum aminotransferases.
Eisai obtained the exclusive rights to develop, market and manufacture clevudine in eight Asian countries from Bukwang Pharma, a South Korean pharmaceutical company, and the development of the compound is ongoing in these countries with the exception of the Philippines. A Phase III clinical trial of clevudine has been initiated in China and marketing authorisation applications have been submitted in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Eisai considers hepatic disease as a therapeutic area of focus in China and other Asian countries and thus markets and develops drugs such as hepatic disease/allergic disease agents Stronger Neo-Minophagen C and Glycyron tablets as well as branched-chain amino acid formula Livact granules.