Assembly Biosciences doses first participant in Phase 1a/b trial of ABI-5366

Assembly Biosciences announced that the first participant has been dosed in the Phase 1a/b trial of its long-acting herpes simplex virus, HSV, helicase-primase inhibitor candidate ABI-5366. “We are pleased to advance ABI-5366 into clinical development for recurrent genital herpes, a disease which significantly impacts the lives of millions of people, and where no new therapeutic options have been approved in over 25 years,” said Anuj Gaggar, MD, PhD, chief medical officer of Assembly Bio. “Importantly, since the HSV helicase-primase is a clinically validated viral target, the PK data from healthy participants in the Phase 1a part of this study will enable us to assess the ability of ABI-5366 to achieve the target concentrations we have established for antiviral efficacy and to support a once-weekly oral dosing profile. These data will also inform our dose selection for the multiple ascending dose Phase 1b part of the study, where we will evaluate viral and clinical outcomes in individuals with recurrent genital herpes.”