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Assembly Biosciences Announces Program Reprioritization and Organizational Update
- Discontinues clinical development of vebicorvir, Assembly Bio’s first-generation core inhibitor, based on interim efficacy data from ongoing combination
About this update from Assembly Biosciences, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"- Discontinues clinical development of vebicorvir, Assembly Bio’s first-generation core inhibitor, based on interim efficacy data from ongoing combination clinical studies - Advancing next-generation, significantly more potent core inhibitors, ABI-H3733 and ABI-4334, in clinical studies - Prioritizes research activities including small molecule HBV/HDV entry inhibitor, small molecule interferon-α receptor agonist and two additional undisclosed viral targets - Reprioritized clinical programs and organizational restructuring extends cash runway into the first half of 2024 SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASMB), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing innovative, investigational therapeutics targeting hepatitis B virus (HBV) and other viral diseases, today announced that it is discontinuing further development of its first-generation core inhibitor, vebicorvir (VBR), as it prioritizes clinical development of its next-generation core inhibitors, ABI-H3733 (3733) and ABI-4334 (4334), and advances its research pipeline. Assembly Bio will restructure the organization and reduce its workforce to align with these strategic goals. VBR Program Update Assembly Biosciences will discontinue clinical development of its first-generation investigational core inhibitor, VBR, based on review of interim on-treatment efficacy from the two ongoing VBR triple combination studies. The data indicate that the triple combinations do not show a benefit in multiple key viral parameters compared to the dual combinations without VBR in either study. “By combining VBR with NrtI therapy, we achieved a more rapid and a deeper level of viral suppression than with NrtI alone and we have continued to see a favorable safety and tolerability profile for VBR. Unfortunately, we do not believe, based on the interim data from our current studies, that either VBR triple combination is likely to achieve a meaningful rate of functional cure for patients with chronic HBV infection,” said John McHutchison, AO, MD, chief executive officer and president of Assembly Bio. “Our strategy remains data driven, and, while data from our VBR program do not support conducting additional cure-focused clinical trials with this candidate, the work has greatly informed the clinical development programs for our next-g...