RNA interference specialist Arrowhead ($ARWR)
presented new data from an ongoing Phase IIa study of its hepatitis B
treatment ARC-520, demonstrating a reduction of the disease's surface
antigens in what the company says is a first for RNAi.
Arrowhead has been chugging along on its hepatitis B candidate, which
makes use of the company's delivery system designed to overcome the
vast challenges associated with RNAi. Last year, CEO Christopher
Anzalone told FierceDrugDelivery that the polymer-based
platform stands apart from other RNA platforms due to its ability to
release the genetic material, what they term "endosomal escape." The
company's Dynamic Polyconjugate approach allows for a "masking" and
"unmasking" process that protects the RNA as it enters the cell, but
also allows it to perform its interference duty once inside.
The new human data for ARC-520 showed significant reduction of the
hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg), according to Arrowhead, as compared
to placebo for up to 85 days, with the lowest point at about a month
after dosing in the 54-patient study. Back in March, the company called
its candidate a "functional cure" due to the presence of an
"immunological flare" in primate studies.
Read more....Labels: ARC-520, Arrowhead