The Hiding Hepatitis Viruses A to E: Why We Can’t Eradicate them all, yet.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has set an ambitious goal to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030. But with over 250 million people living with Hepatitis B globally, why are we still falling short? In this episode, Dr. Robert Cykiert, founder, creator & host of #DoctorPodcasts, sits down with world-renowned viral hepatitis experts Dr. Tatyana Kushner, M.D. @TatyanaKushner (Weill Cornell Medicine) and Dr. Anu Osinusi, M.D., VP of Virology @GileadSciences, to break down the current state of liver disease, diagnosis, and treatment innovation. We dive deep into the silent differences between Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E—uncovering how these viruses transmit, who is most at risk, and why Hepatitis B is so difficult to clear because it hides directly inside human DNA. Plus, we explore how Gilead Sciences is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to disrupt traditional drug development and collapse 15-year timelines into just a few years to find a functional cure. Video Timeline 0:00 – Introduction: The Global Burden of Viral Hepatitis 2:30 – What is Viral Hepatitis & How It Damages the Liver 4:04 – Shocking Global Statistics: Millions Affected Worldwide 4:54 – Gilead Sciences' Evolving Role in Fighting Liver Diseas 6:58 – Hepatitis A vs. B, C, D, & E: Key Differences Explained 7:14 – Modes of Transmission: Bloodborne vs. Fecal-Oral Routes 11:33 – Debunking Misconceptions: Can Saliva Transmit Hepatitis? 12:26 – Gilead's Current Research Priorities (HBV, HCV, HDV) 15:56 – The WHO 2030 Elimination Goal: Where Do We Stand? 17:27 – Screening Recommendations & Universal Pregnancy Testing20:12 – Addressing Hepatitis Delta: "The Forgotten Virus" 24:54 – Why Newborns & Immunosuppressed Patients Face Severe Risks 27:19 – Vaccine Guide: Who Needs the Hepatitis A & B Vaccines? 30:34 – Why Is Hepatitis B So Difficult to Eradicate? (DNA Integration) 33:10 – The Decline of Liver Transplants Due to Hepatitis C Cures 34:24 – The Next Frontier: Functional Cures for Hepatitis B37:41 – How Artificial Intelligence (AI) is Revolutionizing Drug Discovery40:46 – Trusted Online Resources for Patients & Families #HepatitisBCure #LiverHealth #MedicalAI #GileadSciences #PublicHealth #HepatitisAwareness