Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (NASDAQ: ABUS) has announced new data from its im-Prove I Phase 2a clinical trial (AB-729-201) showing significant progress in achieving a functional cure for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (CHBV) infection. The trial demonstrated that six doses of Imdusiran, the company's RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic candidate, and 24 weeks of pegylated interferon alfa-2α (IFN), in combination with ongoing nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) therapy, led to a functional cure rate of 50% (3/6) in HBeAg-negative patients with baseline hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) levels less than 1000 IU/ml, and an overall functional cure rate of 25% (3/12). These results represent a substantial improvement compared to historical functional cure rates with interferon alone, which have been less than 10% for HBV patients.
Key data from patients in cohort A1 that received the combination treatment include: 50% of patients (3/6) with baseline HbsAg <1000 IU/ml achieved a functional cure, defined as sustained HbsAg loss and HBV DNA less than the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) 24 weeks off all treatment, with or without hepatitis B surface antibodies (anti-HBs). Today the company's shares have moved 0.7% to a price of $3.65. For the full picture, make sure to review Arbutus Biopharma's 8-K report.
