Replicor updates clinical efficacy results in patients with chronic hepatitis B with short term exposure to immunotherapy in combination with REP 2139-ca.

February 27th, 2013 – Tokyo, Japan.

February 27th, 2013 – Replicor is currently undertaking a proof of concept trial in patients with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) undergoing treatment with its nucleic acid polymer (NAP) REP 2139-ca in combination with Zadaxin™ or Pegasys™. The hepatitis B surface antigen protein (HBsAg) is produced in large excess by the HBV infection as subviral particles (SVPs) which act to block the immune response to HBV infection. NAPs act to block the release of SVPs from infected hepatocytes, providing an effective method for clearing HBsAg from the blood. The elimination of HBsAg in the blood of HBV-infected patients is well known to be the best indicator of a curative response to treatment.

Updated interim results from Replicor’s proof of concept trial were disclosed on February 27th, 2013 at the 5th annual ASIA Tides meeting held Toyko, Japan. Patients who had cleared HBsAg from their blood with REP 2139-ca monotherapy were subjected to combination treatment with REP 2139-ca and either Pegasys™ or Zadaxin™. Profound increases in anti-HBV antibodies or immune function were observed in all patients with as few as 6-10 weeks of combination treatment. All patients have achieved HBV antibody levels seen in healthy patients after vaccination with a total of 12 weeks of combination treatment and many patients have achieved antibody titers > 1000 mIU / ml. In 8 out of 9 patients who have achieved this therapeutic vaccine-like response, they continue to control their viral infection 12 – 24 weeks after all treatment is stopped. Replicor expects that immunotherapy, when given in combination with the HBsAg release inhibitor REP 2139-ca will achieve effective restoration of the immune response to chronic HBV infection which may result in the achievement of durable immunological control in most patients, regardless of viral genotype or state of their HBV infection.

For the 5th annual ASIATides meeting:
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