Pathway to global elimination of hepatitis B: HBV cure is just the first step.

Hepatitis B (HBV) is a major cause of global morbidity and mortality and the lead cause of liver cancer worldwide. Significant advances have recently been made towards development of a finite HBV treatment that achieves permanent loss of HBsAg and HBV DNA (so-called "HBV cure"), which could provide the means to eliminate HBV as a public health threat. However, HBV cure is just one step toward achieving WHO HBV elimination targets by 2030 and much work must be done now to prepare for successful implementation of HBV cure. In this review, we describe the required steps to rapidly scale-up future HBV cure equitably. We present key actions required for successful HBV cure implementation, integrated within the WHO GHSS 2022-2030 framework. Finally, we highlight what can be done now to progress towards the 2030 HBV elimination targets using available tools to ensure we are preparing, but not waiting, for cure.