Vir Biotechnology presents new data evaluating potential for VIR-2218, VIR-3434

Vir Biotechnology announced new data from its hepatitis B and D virus portfolio that were presented at the EASL, or European Association for the Study of the Liver, Congress. Data presented in a late-breaker oral presentation from a Phase 2 clinical trial demonstrated that when VIR-2218, an investigational small interfering ribonucleic acid, was given for 24 or 48 weeks on top of a course of up to 48 weeks of pegylated interferon alpha, 16% achieved sustained HBsAg loss 24 weeks following the end of treatment. In a poster presentation, new pharmacokinetics data support the safety, tolerability and antiviral activity of a 300 mg dose of VIR-3434, an investigational monoclonal antibody, which is being evaluated for the treatment of chronic HBV and HDV infection across multiple ongoing clinical trials. In addition, preclinical data presented in a separate poster showed evidence of antiviral efficacy of VIR-2218 and VIR-3434 against HDV infection by demonstrating reduced levels of HBsAg, HDV and HBV viremia in vivo with the parental molecule of VIR-3434 as well as reduced HBV antigens and secreted infectious HDV virions in vitro with both single and combination therapies of VIR-2218 and VIR-3434. These data further support the clinical development of these investigational medicines for the treatment of HDV.