International Scientific Collaboration Advances Infectious Disease Research
Vietnam Conducts International-Standard Hepatitis D Virus Testing for the First Time, Supporting Breakthrough Drug Development
A Vietnamese Research Institute has collaborated with Stanford University’s Institute for Microbiology and Epidemiology (US) to implement international-standard Hepatitis D Virus (HDV) screening tests for the first time in Vietnam. This initiative aims to support research into breakthrough Hepatitis B treatments and enhance the early detection of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer risks for tens of millions of people co-infected with Hepatitis B and D in the country.
Vietnam currently has approximately 10 million individuals living with Hepatitis B, with thousands of cases progressing annually to cirrhosis and liver cancer. The Hepatitis D Virus is highly dangerous as it only infects individuals already carrying Hepatitis B. When the two viruses coexist, the speed of progression to cirrhosis and liver cancer is accelerated by 2-3 times.
Multicenter Collaborative Research Project:
The joint research project, titled the HEP-D Study, is the largest and most comprehensive study on Hepatitis D ever conducted in Vietnam.
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Scope: The study will be implemented across multiple centers, including General Hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as Bach Mai Hospital, running from November 2025 to July 2026.
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Objective: To provide an opportunity for earlier detection for those co-infected with Hepatitis B and D, enabling them to proactively and more effectively prevent cirrhosis and liver cancer.
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Protocol: Experts from the Stanford Institute have directly trained Vietnamese doctors and technicians on the Hepatitis D virus testing technique following the “Stanford standard” to ensure the study’s adherence to international protocols.
Strategic Benefits and Future Breakthrough Drugs:
The research aims to assess the prevalence and risk of Hepatitis B-D co-infection in Vietnam, serving as a crucial prerequisite for gaining early access to research on specialized breakthrough drugs for Hepatitis D. Through this collaboration, Vietnam also expects to soon introduce a breakthrough Hepatitis D drug invented by Stanford scientists, which is particularly critical as there is currently no specific global treatment available.
Patient Enrollment:
The HEP-D Study will recruit patients aged 16 and over who have been diagnosed with chronic Hepatitis B. Participants are required to visit for a single examination and undergo a blood test to detect the presence of the Hepatitis D virus infection. To encourage screening participation among Hepatitis B patients, the hospital system is fully sponsoring the first nearly 2,500 tests. This research is one of four key cooperation projects signed between the two parties in 2023.
