‘Epigenetic’ editing is here: gene-tagging technique banishes hepatitis B virus The technique uses chemical tags to shut down viral DNA lurking in a host’s genome. By Miryam Naddaf

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-02981-9?utm_source=Live+Audience&utm_campaign=19641a4507-nature-briefing-daily-20260922&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-33f35e09ea-50432164 Epigenetic editing could treat hep B A treatment that adds chemical tags to the genome of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) can shut down the virus’s gene activity and prevent it from producing viral particles. The therapy, which achieved promising results in experiments on human liver cells and in mice, could be used to treat chronic hepatitis B, a lingering liver infection that affects more than 250 million people worldwide. A clinical trial to test the treatment in people is already under way, with the first participant receiving an intravenous infusion in January this year.