Interim analysis of the PARADISE study: benefits of add-on peginterferon-α in NA-treated patients with CHB

This study aimed to investigate whether peginterferon-α (IFN) add-on nucleos(t)ide analogs(NAs) can further reduce hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) risk compared with NAs monotherapy in NA-treated patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB). In this multi-center randomized controlled trial "PARADISE study" (NCT05671315), CHB patients with intermediate to high risk of HCC after more than 24-week NAs pretreatment were recruited, randomized to two groups at a ratio of 1:2 and followed up for 240 weeks. NAs group maintained NAs monotherapy, while IFN+NAs group received IFN add-on NAs therapy for 48 weeks, then switched to NAs monotherapy. Totally, 196 patients were included in interim analysis (NAs group 68, IFN+NAs group 128). The 96-week cumulative HCC incidence was lower in IFN+NAs group than NAs group (0% vs. 4.5%, p<0.05). Compared with NAs group, IFN+NAs group had significantly higher rates of HBsAg loss at week 48 and 96 (22.7% vs. 0%; 16.7% vs. 0%, both p<0.05). A new scoring system was established to predict HBsAg decline >2log10 IU/ml, HBsAg <10 IU/ml or HBsAg loss at the end of 48-week IFN treatment. The area under ROC curve was 0.914, 0.922 or 0.905 in the original cohort (n=128) and 0.896, 0.896 or 0.864 in the external validation cohort (n=162) for the aforementioned three outcomes, respectively. IFN add-on NAs therapy may suggest the dual benefits of reducing HCC development and facilitating HBsAg loss among NA-treated CHB patients with intermediate to high risk of HCC. The new scoring system helps to make the most of IFN treatment for a higher cost-effectiveness in healthcare.