Promising New Data from Hepatitis B Trial by Arbutus and Barinthus

Arbutus Biopharma

WARMINSTER, PA and OXFORD, United KingdomArbutus Biopharma Corporation and Barinthus Biotherapeutics recently unveiled encouraging preliminary results from their Phase 2a IM-PROVE II clinical trial at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) 2024 meeting. The trial, which focuses on chronic hepatitis B (cHBV), shows potential advancements in treatment options for the disease.

The latest findings involve Group C participants who received a combination of imdusiran, an RNAi therapeutic by Arbutus, and VTP-300, a T-cell stimulating immunotherapeutic from Barinthus, with or without nivolumab, a monoclonal antibody. Notably, those who received nivolumab exhibited higher rates of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss compared to other groups. This is seen as a significant step forward in targeting HBsAg, a crucial antigen in hepatitis B treatment.

Dr. Leon Hooftman, Chief Medical Officer of Barinthus Bio, remarked, “These data demonstrated the impact of the combination of an immune stimulant such as VTP-300 and a low dose of the checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab in helping participants reach HBsAg loss.” He emphasized the promising nature of these early results, which align with data from other ongoing studies.

Dr. Karen Sims, Chief Medical Officer of Arbutus Biopharma, added, “These data continue to support our belief that lowering surface antigen is key to promoting HBV-specific immune reawakening.” She highlighted the importance of imdusiran in reducing HBsAg before introducing immunomodulatory agents, which enhanced response rates.

Group C included 22 non-cirrhotic, virally suppressed participants who were on stable nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy. The trial showed that 23% of those administered imdusiran, VTP-300, and nivolumab achieved HBsAg loss by Week 48, demonstrating a promising therapeutic pathway.

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The trial’s regimen with nivolumab was well tolerated, with no immune-related adverse events reported. This development could offer new hope to those affected by cHBV, as the combination therapy shows potential to improve immune response and manage the infection more effectively.

As research progresses, these findings may pave the way for enhanced treatment strategies, offering a beacon of hope in the fight against chronic hepatitis B.

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