Press Release
MONTREAL, June 11, 2018 – Replicor Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company targeting a cure for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and chronic HBV and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) co-infection, presented updated mechanistic and clinical data last week at the Science of HBV Cure workshop, a part of the Singapore Hepatology Conference, held June 8-9, 2018 in Singapore. Updated mechanistic data and pre-clinical data on the antiviral effects of REP 2139 in monotherapy were discussed on June 8, followed by a second presentation on June 9 focusing on functional control rates achieved with REP 2139-based combination therapy in HBV and HDV infections.
REP 2139’s antiviral effects against HBV infection include not only blocking the assembly and release of subviral particles but reductions in intracellular HBsAg which are accompanied by inhibition of viral replication in the liver early during treatment in pre-clinical studies. Dr. Andrew Vaillant, CSO, commented “the new awareness that REP 2139 might actually lead to lower intrahepatic HBsAg may suggest immediate improvement in intrahepatic immune function which could begin to explain the other antiviral effects which accompany REP 2139 monotherapy including reduction in viral replication in the liver, the onset of therapeutic transaminase flares and reductions of serum HBV DNA”.
An overview of trials using REP 2139-based combination regimens with different immunotherapies and TDF demonstrated the profound benefit HBsAg clearance has on the ability of immunotherapy to achieve functional control in HBV and HDV infections, indicating that substantial reductions of HBsAg will clearly be necessary for any immunotherapy to be functional against HBV infection. Dr. Vaillant went on to comment, “TDF sets a high bar for other direct acting antiviral agents to follow, with demonstrated immunotherapeutic properties in addition to its ability to suppress serum HBV DNA, and a demonstrated ability to reduce cccDNA in the liver. The high rates of functional control we currently see in the REP 401 protocol are likely due at least in part to the bifunctional nature of TDF”. Current functional control rates in patients completing 24 weeks of follow-up in the REP 401 protocol are 87% (HBV DNA < 1000 IU/mL) and 70% (HBV DNA < LLOQ) with HBsAg ≤ LLOQ in 53% of patients.
Replicor’s presentations from Science of HBV Cure meeting are now available at www.replicor.com/science/conference-presentations.
About Replicor
Replicor is a privately held biopharmaceutical company with the most advanced animal and human clinical data in the development of the cure for HBV and HDV. The company is dedicated to accelerating the development of an effective treatment for patients with HBV and HBV/HDV co-infection. For further information about Replicor please visit our website at www.replicor.com.
Media Contact:
Natacha Dorget
ndorget@replicor.com
(514) 733-1998