TUESDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic hepatitis B infection in adults.

The Gilead Sciences drug has been approved since 2001 to treat HIV/AIDS.

A serious liver disease, chronic hepatitis B affects about 400 million people globally and some 2 million in the United States, the manufacturer said in a news release. Asian Americans account for nearly half of all cases of the infection, which is a leading cause of liver cancer.

A once-daily tablet, Viread blocks an enzyme called HBV DNA polymerase, which is needed by the hepatitis B virus to replicate in liver cells.

More information

The FDA has more about this drug's approval history.