HEPSANET at EASL Congress 2026

HEPSANET had a strong presence at EASL Congress 2026

in Barcelona, with research featured in three poster tours

and contributions to a dedicated session on HBV

guidelines in low- and middle-income countries.

HEPSANET investigators contributed to the session on

implementing new HBV guidelines in low- and middle-income

countries, focusing on lessons and perspectives from Africa. Asgeir

Johannessen, Wendy Spearman and Maud Lemoine discussed the

challenges of applying international HBV guidelines in settings

where laboratory testing and liver fibrosis diagnostic tools are not

available.

The presentations highlighted experiences from the

HEPSANET clinical sites, where simplified approaches to patient

assessment and treatment eligibility have enabled successful HBV

care despite limited resources. The

session emphasised the importance of

adapting recommendations to local

settings to expand access to diagnosis and

treatment across Africa.

Three HEPSANET studies were selected for presentation during

poster tours. Kalisha Bheemraj presented findings on virologic

outcomes among patients receiving antiviral therapy for chronic

HBV, including patterns of viral load decline and viral suppression

over time. Kalisha also presented an analysis of hepatitis B e

antigen positivity and HBV DNA levels among treatment-naive

individuals, highlighting regional variation in HBV replication

markers and viral expression across Africa.

Edford Sinkala

presented findings on hepatic steatosis among people with HBV

monoinfection and HBV/HIV coinfection, including its prevalence,

associated risk factors, and relationship with liver fibrosis.

Together, these presentations showcased the breadth of HEPSANET research. The congress provided an opportunity to share findings, strengthen collaborations, and contribute important African perspectives to ongoing discussions on improving HBV care and policy.