Excision BioTherapeutics announced preclinical data demonstrating the efficacy of EBT-107, a CRISPR-based gene therapy candidate for chronic hepatitis B (HBV). EBT-107 utilizes lipid nanoparticles to deliver a CRISPR/Cas system targeting two viral DNA sequences, eliminating both episomal and integrated HBV DNA with minimal off-target effects. This approach addresses the root cause of HBV infection, which affects 250 million people globally and leads to 1.5 million new cases annually.
The successful suppression of randomly integrated HBV DNA is a critical advancement. Current HBV treatments primarily manage symptoms and reduce viral load but fail to eradicate the integrated viral DNA (cccDNA) responsible for persistent infection and the development of liver cancer. EBT-107’s potential to eliminate this integrated viral DNA offers a path towards a functional cure, a significant improvement over existing therapies. This breakthrough could drastically alter the treatment landscape for chronic HBV, offering hope for millions of patients currently facing limited therapeutic options.
The preclinical study, published in •bioRxiv•, revealed that EBT-107 effectively inhibited viral gene expression and replication. Importantly, the treatment also suppressed random viral DNA integration, a key factor in HBV persistence and disease progression. These findings support the advancement of EBT-107 into Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies and subsequent clinical trials.
This positive preclinical data represents a crucial step towards a potential cure for chronic HBV. The results suggest that EBT-107 could significantly impact public health by reducing the global burden of HBV infection and its associated complications, including liver cancer. The commencement of IND-enabling studies will be a key milestone to watch, paving the way for clinical evaluation of this promising therapy.
Jon Napitupulu is Director of Media Relations at The Clinical Trial Vanguard. Jon, a computer data scientist, focuses on the latest clinical trial industry news and trends.
