Arbutus Presents Data from Combination Activity Studies of HBV Drug Candidates
April 22 2016 - 8:00AM
Additional Preclinical Combination Data to be
Presented This YearClinical Combination Studies to Begin in
2017
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (Nasdaq:ABUS), an industry-leading
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) therapeutic solutions company, today
announced presentations this week by Dr. Michael Sofia, Arbutus’
Chief Scientific Officer, on results of several preclinical HBV
drug combination studies at the 29th International Conference on
Antiviral Research held April 17-21, and Cambridge Healthtech
Institute’s 11th Annual Drug Discovery Chemistry conference held
April 19-22, 2016, both in San Diego.
“We are excited to present this intriguing data from our
preclinical drug combination studies. These data show additive or
synergistic activity in in vitro and in vivo studies that evaluate
different HBV disease markers such as cccDNA synthesis and
expression, HBV rcDNA synthesis, HBsAg production and serum HBV
DNA. We believe that combination therapy will enable an HBV cure
with a finite treatment duration, and we have built a diverse
pipeline of HBV product candidates at Arbutus to support this
strategy,” said Dr. Sofia. “Our thorough preclinical evaluation of
combinations of HBV candidates with different direct acting
anti-viral mechanisms of action will inform our proprietary
clinical combination studies, which will begin in 2017.”
These initial preclinical combination studies have established
the following:
- Our drug candidates ARB-1467, AB-423, and AB-199 are potent and
selective inhibitors of their respective targets.
- These drug candidates can be used in combination with the ‘nuc’
standard of care without any antagonism of drug activity.
- These drug candidates when used in combination with the ‘nuc’
standard of care demonstrate at least additive and in some cases
synergistic activity.
- That our first proprietary drug combination, RNAi plus capsid
formation inhibitor, also demonstrates additive activity.
- These results support Arbutus’ combination strategy.
Summary of the Studies Presented:
Combination |
Study(ies) |
AB-423 (core protein/capsid inhibitor) with entecavir (EVT) |
In vitro and in vivo |
AB-423 (core protein/capsid inhibitor) with ARB-1467 (RNAi) |
In vitro and in vivo |
ARB-1467 (RNAi) with EVT |
In vitro |
ARB-199 (cccDNA formation inhibitor) with EVT |
In vitro |
ARB-199 (cccDNA formation inhibitor) with lamivudine |
In vitro |
|
|
The presentation can be accessed by visiting the Investor
sections of www.arbutusbio.com and selecting Events and
Presentations.
About Arbutus
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation is a
biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and
commercializing a cure for patients suffering from chronic
hepatitis B infection. Arbutus is headquartered in Vancouver,
BC, Canada with offices in Doylestown, PA, USA. For more
information, visit www.arbutusbio.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
and forward looking information within the meaning of Canadian
securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”).
Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements
about using a combination therapy to enable an HBV cure with a
finite treatment duration; beginning proprietary clinical
combination studies in 2017; the effectiveness of HBV candidates;
and developing and commercializing a cure for patients suffering
from chronic HBV infection using a three-pillar strategy.
With respect to the forward-looking statements contained in this
press release, Arbutus has made numerous assumptions regarding,
among other things: the effectiveness and timeliness of preclinical
and clinical trials, and the usefulness of the data; the continued
demand for Arbutus’ assets; and the stability of economic and
market conditions. While Arbutus considers these assumptions to be
reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant
business, economic, competitive, market and social uncertainties
and contingencies.
Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which
could cause Arbutus' actual results, performance or achievements to
be materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements
contained herein. Known risk factors include, among others:
anticipated pre-clinical and clinical trials may be more costly or
take longer to complete than anticipated, and may never be
initiated or completed, or may not generate results that warrant
future development of the tested drug candidate; Arbutus may not
receive the necessary regulatory approvals for the clinical
development of Arbutus' products; economic and market conditions
may worsen; and market shifts may require a change in strategic
focus.
A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing
Arbutus appears in Arbutus' Annual Report on Form 10-K and Arbutus'
continuous disclosure filings, which are available at
www.sedar.com and at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking
statements herein are qualified in their entirety by this
cautionary statement, and Arbutus disclaims any obligation to
revise or update any such forward-looking statements or to publicly
announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking
statements contained herein to reflect future results, events or
developments, except as required by law.
Contact Information
Investors
Adam Cutler
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs
Phone: 604.419.3200
Email: acutler@arbutusbio.com
Helia Baradarani
Manager, Investor Relations
Phone: 604.419.3200
Email: hbaradarani@arbutusbio.com
Media
Please direct all media inquiries to: media@arbutusbio.com
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