In Hep B, Functional Cure Likely Means Two-Part Combination Process

While current HBV drugs work well to suppress the virus, combination success in HIV and HCV is leading biopharmas to seek a multi-part approach to suppressing and clearing the virus, with limited-term therapy.

Hep B_1200

Companies working on next-generation drug therapies for hepatitis B have been talking about achieving a “functional cure” of the virus for several years now, but as candidates progress through the pipeline, consensus seems to be emerging about the best way to accomplish this.

“Functional cure” – meaning treating HBV with a temporary and largely curative regimen, similar to the drug cocktails used in...

More from Anti-infective

Memo Therapeutics Plans BK Virus Therapy Phase III Despite Trial Miss

 
• By 

Pointing to data that show a benefit in reducing viral load and the histological signs of the infection, Memo says its drug, potravitug, could become the first therapy to treat BK polyomavirus in kidney transplant recipients.

Moderna’s Spikevax Wins Pediatric Approval, But With Narrower Label

 

The approval for young children, consistent with the FDA’s new COVID-19 vaccine policy, restricts Spikevax to those with conditions putting them at higher risk.

Four Chinese Firms Snag Global First-In-Class Approvals In China

 

Four Chinese companies have won approvals in China, the first anywhere, for novel drugs for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, certain types of non-small cell lung cancer and influenza A.

In Brief: BioVersys And Shionogi Align In Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria R&D

 
• By 

Deal Snapshot: Having recently raised an $89m IPO, BioVersys is partnering on and optioning rights to a preclinical NTM development program with Shionogi.

More from Therapy Areas

Obesity Beyond GLP-1s: Amylins – The Next Frontier

 
• By 

In this series of articles, we look at different mechanisms of actions beyond GLP-1s that could determine the obesity drug landscape in the coming years. First on our list – amylin receptor agonists, which analysts expect to grow into a $50bn market opportunity.

Dispatch Uses ‘Flare’ To Send CAR-Ts To Solid Tumors

 

With $216m in initial funding, the newly launched company is aiming to develop a cell therapy-based universal immuno-oncology option for solid tumor indications.

Where Next For Biologics In COPD After Roche’s Astegolimab Phase III Missfire?

 

The Phase III failure could dent Roche’s hopes of entering the COPD market with its novel therapy, despite its success in a large Phase IIb trial. It also marks another disappointment for the anti-IL33/ST2 approach.