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GSK Opts In On Ionis’ Antisense Candidates For Hep B

 
• By Joseph Haas

The pharma is taking over a pair of Ionis candidates intended to address the underlying cause of HBV, possibly offering a curative therapy. It’s just the second HBV licensing agreement in 2019, after heavier deal flow in recent years.

Wooden block form the word HEP B with stethoscope. Medical concept.
The next frontier in hepatitis B therapy is curing the virus

The winding terrain of the longstanding collaboration between GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc. took another turn on 27 August, as the pharma elected to opt in on a pair of antisense candidates for hepatitis B, paying the biotech $25m in licensing fees with the potential for milestone payments sales royalties.

Overall, it was only the second licensing deal around HBV assets announced in 2019, according to Strategic Transactions. In an...

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