Efficacy and Safety of Telbivudine in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B

Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female, at least 18 years of age. * Patients with compensated chronic hepatitis B who are currently receiving adefovir 10mg once daily. * Patients must have received adefovir 10mg once daily for at least 48 weeks continuously and have a sub-optimal response to adefovir therapy (≥4log10 copies of HBV DNA/mL). * Patient is willing to comply with all study requirements. * Patient is willing and able to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women. All women must have a negative pregnancy test at the screening visit. * Female patients of reproductive potential is unwilling to use double barrier method of contraception (condom plus spermicide or diaphragm plus spermicide). * Patient is co-infected with hepatitis C virus or HIV. * Patient has previously taken lamivudine. * Patient is currently abusing illicit drugs or alcohol. * Patient is using any investigational drugs or with in the last 30 days. * Patient is enrolled or plans to enroll in a clinical study involving investigational drug. * Patient has a history of pancreatitis, hepatic decompsensation, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, or a history of hypersensitivity to telbivudine or adfovir. Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.