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Arbutus Completes Enrollment in its Phase 2a Clinical Trial Combining AB-729 with NA Therapy and Peginterferon alfa-2a in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection
Preliminary data from lead-in phase further validates AB-729’s capacity to reduce HBsAg Initial data from IFN phase expected in the first half of 2023
About this update from Arbutus Biopharma Corporation
[{"type":"text","content":"Preliminary data from lead-in phase further validates AB-729’s capacity to reduce HBsAg Initial data from IFN phase expected in the first half of 2023 WARMINSTER, Pa., Dec. 13, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (Nasdaq: ABUS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging its extensive virology expertise to develop novel therapeutics that target specific viral diseases, today announced preliminary data from the AB-729 lead-in portion of its Phase 2a clinical trial combining AB-729 with nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) therapy and Peginterferon alfa-2a (IFN). The data reinforces AB-729’s surface antigen reducing-capacity, while continuing to exhibit a generally safe and well-tolerated profile in patients with chronic Hepatitis B virus (cHBV). Given that only a few patients are in the early weeks of the IFN phase of the clinical trial, the Company intends to provide additional updated data in the first half of next year which will include preliminary results of the IFN portion of the trial. Enrollment is complete in the clinical trial with 43 patients having received at least one dose of AB-729. For the first 15 patients who reached week 16 of treatment and received two doses of AB-729 plus NA therapy, the mean (SE) HBsAg decline was 1.51 log (0.12), comparable to the decline observed at the same timepoint in the completed Phase 1b clinical trial AB-729-001 (1.56 log (0.1)). As the trial progresses, patients will be randomized into various treatment arms which include the combination of AB-729, NA therapy and short courses of IFN for either 12 or 24 weeks. Gaston Picchio, Ph.D., Chief Development Officer at Arbutus, commented, “These preliminary Phase 2a data are reassuring since they confirm previous Phase 1b results showing that AB-729 is capable of consistently reducing HBsAg while maintaining a safe and well-tolerated profile. We look forward to seeing the effects of different courses of IFN in combination with AB-729 to reduce HBsAg throughout 2023.” The randomized, open label, multicenter Phase 2a proof-of-concept clinical trial is designed to investigate the safety and antiviral activity of AB-729 in combination with ongoing NA therapy and short courses of IFN. The trial enrolled NA-suppressed, HBeAg negative, non-cirrhotic patients with cHBV. Patients are predominantly of Asian descent. The mean bas...