Hookipa Pharma announces publication of preclinical data on HB-400

HOOKIPA Pharma (HOOK) announced that The Journal of Infectious Diseases has published preclinical data on HB-400, an investigational therapeutic vaccine for chronic hepatitis B developed in collaboration with Gilead Sciences (GILD). The published data highlight HB-400 as a potential component in achieving a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B. HOOKIPA’s alternating 2-vector approach is designed to optimize and focus the immune response against the target antigens. HB-400 is one of two independent development programs in HOOKIPA’s collaboration and license agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. The preclinical data published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases show that: Immunization with HB-400 induced robust, hepatitis B-specific T cell and antibody responses in non-human primates; and HB-400 vaccination cleared detectable serum hepatitis B antigens in a mouse model for chronic HBV infection, with near elimination of detectable hepatitis B antigen positive hepatocytes in the liver. “The lack of curative therapies for chronic hepatitis B infection is a significant barrier to addressing the global burden of disease,” said Joern Aldag, Chief Executive Officer at HOOKIPA. “We’re pleased to see our novel arenaviral platform technology featured in this reputable journal, and we look forward to seeing how clinical results of Gilead’s ongoing Phase 1 trial of HB-400 may further support its potential as a component of a functional cure regimen for hepatitis B.”