Inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication by various RNAi constructs and their pharmacodynamic properties.

The strategy of RNA interference (RNAi)-based gene silencing has been suggested to have great potential in treating viral diseases. It provides new hope of being able to complement the limited therapeutic options currently available for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. To advance such a strategy towards clinical use, the effects of various parameters on the anti-HBV efficiency of RNAi need to be well-defined.