Barinthus presents interim data in two HBV clinical trials

Barinthus Biotherapeutics (BRNS) announced the presentation of data from two HBV clinical trials at The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. The presentations include an oral presentation of data from HBV003, an ongoing Phase 2b trial designed to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of VTP-300 when combined with a low-dose anti-PD-1 antibody, and standard-of-care nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy. Alongside this, a late-breaking poster presentation with interim data from patients with chronic hepatitis B from the Phase 2a AB-729-202 trial combining Arbutus Biopharma Corporation’s (ABUS) RNAi therapeutic candidate, imdusiran, with Barinthus Bio’s T cell stimulating immunotherapeutic candidate, VTP-300, and SoC NUC therapy. “We believe these early data are very encouraging. In HBV003, VTP-300 in combination with nivolumab continues to show meaningful and sustained HBsAg declines across all treatment groups, with the most prominent declines occurring in patients with lower baseline HBsAg levels at screening,” said Bill Enright, CEO of Barinthus Bio. Regarding the combination trial imdusiran with VTP300, Bill added “Although these are preliminary data, we can already see that VTP-300 appears to show a meaningful impact in sustaining low HBsAg in patients after imdusiran treatment, with clear differences shown between placebo and VTP-300. It’s very positive that we are seeing that all participants treated with imdusiran and VTP-300 have qualified to stop NUC therapy, which really highlights VTP-300’s potential as an important component of a functional cure regimen.”