Precision BioSciences Receives First Approval of Clinical Trial Application to Initiate PBGENE-HBV First-In-Human Study for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B
Precision BioSciences (NASDAQ: DTIL) has received its first Clinical Trial Application (CTA) approval in Moldova for PBGENE-HBV, marking the first in vivo gene editing program for chronic hepatitis B virus to enter global clinical trials. The program aims to cure chronic hepatitis B by eliminating cccDNA and inactivating integrated HBV DNA in hepatocytes using the proprietary ARCUS® platform. PBGENE-HBV delivers nuclease-encoding mRNA to the liver via lipid nanoparticles, targeting the HBV viral genome. The company is pursuing additional CTA and IND approvals globally to accelerate trial enrollment, aiming to provide a potential cure for nearly 300 million patients living with chronic hepatitis B.
Precision BioSciences (NASDAQ: DTIL) ha ricevuto la sua prima approvazione per un'Applicazione di Sperimentazione Clinica (CTA) in Moldova per PBGENE-HBV, segnando così il primo programma di editing genetico in vivo per il virus dell'epatite B cronica a entrare nella sperimentazione clinica globale. Il programma ha come obiettivo la cura dell'epatite B cronica mediante l'eliminazione del cccDNA e l'inattivazione del DNA HBV integrato negli epatociti, utilizzando la piattaforma proprietaria ARCUS®. PBGENE-HBV fornisce mRNA codificante per nucleasi al fegato tramite nanoparticelle lipidiche, mirando al genoma virale HBV. L'azienda sta perseguendo ulteriori approvazioni di CTA e IND a livello globale per accelerare l'arruolamento nei trial, con l'obiettivo di fornire una potenziale cura per quasi 300 milioni di pazienti affetti da epatite B cronica.
Precision BioSciences (NASDAQ: DTIL) ha recibido su primera aprobación para una Solicitud de Ensayo Clínico (CTA) en Moldavia para PBGENE-HBV, marcando el primer programa de edición genética in vivo para el virus de la hepatitis B crónica que ingresa a ensayos clínicos globales. El programa tiene como objetivo curar la hepatitis B crónica eliminando el cccDNA e inactivando el ADN integrado del HBV en los hepatocitos mediante la plataforma propietaria ARCUS®. PBGENE-HBV entrega ARNm que codifica nucleasas al hígado a través de nanopartículas lipídicas, dirigiéndose al genoma viral del HBV. La empresa está buscando aprobaciones adicionales de CTA e IND a nivel mundial para acelerar la inscripción en los ensayos, con el objetivo de proporcionar una posible cura para casi 300 millones de pacientes que viven con hepatitis B crónica.
프리시전 바이오사이언스 (NASDAQ: DTIL)는 몰도바에서 PBGENE-HBV에 대한 첫 임상 시험 신청(CTA) 승인을 받았으며, 이는 만성 B형 간염 바이러스에 대한 최초의 살아 있는 유전자 편집 프로그램이 세계 임상 시험에 진입하게 되는 것을 의미합니다. 이 프로그램은 cccDNA를 제거하고 간세포에서 통합된 HBV DNA를 비활성화하여 만성 B형 간염을 치료하는 것을 목표로 하며, 이는 독점 플랫폼인 ARCUS®를 사용합니다. PBGENE-HBV는 지질 나노입자를 통해 간에 뉴클레아제 인코딩 mRNA를 전달하며, HBV 바이러스 유전체를 목표로 합니다. 이 회사는 전 세계적으로 추가 CTA 및 IND 승인을 추진하여 임상 시험 등록을 가속화하고, 만성 B형 간염 환자 3억 명에게 잠재적인 치료법을 제공하는 것을 목표로 하고 있습니다.
Precision BioSciences (NASDAQ: DTIL) a reçu sa première approbation de Demande de Recherche Clinique (CTA) en Moldavie pour PBGENE-HBV, marquant le premier programme d'édition génique in vivo pour le virus de l'hépatite B chronique à entrer dans des essais cliniques mondiaux. Le programme vise à guérir l'hépatite B chronique en éliminant le cccDNA et en inactivant l'ADN HBV intégré dans les hépatocytes, en utilisant la plateforme propriétaire ARCUS®. PBGENE-HBV délivre de l'ARNm codant des nucléases au foie via des nanoparticules lipidiques, ciblant le génome viral HBV. L'entreprise poursuit des approbations supplémentaires de CTA et IND au niveau mondial pour accélérer l'inscription aux essais, visant à fournir un traitement potentiel à près de 300 millions de patients vivant avec l'hépatite B chronique.
Precision BioSciences (NASDAQ: DTIL) hat die erste Genehmigung für einen Antrag auf klinische Prüfung (CTA) in Moldawien für PBGENE-HBV erhalten, was das erste in vivo-Gen-Editing-Programm für chronisches Hepatitis-B-Virus darstellt, das in globale klinische Studien eintritt. Das Programm zielt darauf ab, chronische Hepatitis B zu heilen, indem cccDNA eliminiert und integriertes HBV-DNA in Hepatozyten inaktiviert wird, mit Hilfe der proprietären ARCUS®-Plattform. PBGENE-HBV liefert nukleasen-codierende mRNA an die Leber über lipidbasierte Nanopartikel und zielt auf das HBV-Virengenom ab. Das Unternehmen strebt weltweit zusätzliche Genehmigungen für CTA und IND an, um die Rekrutierung für die Studien zu beschleunigen, mit dem Ziel, nahezu 300 Millionen Patienten mit chronischer Hepatitis B eine potenzielle Heilung zu ermöglichen.
- First-ever clinical stage approach targeting cccDNA elimination for hepatitis B treatment
- Successful CTA approval in Moldova enables immediate trial initiation
- Multiple global regulatory applications pending, indicating expansion potential
- Technology addresses limitations of current treatments which only offer 1-3% functional cure rate
- Clinical trials still in early Phase 1 stage with no efficacy data yet
- Currently approved only in Moldova, pending broader regulatory acceptance
- Faces competition from established hepatitis B treatments
Insights
The CTA approval in Moldova marks a significant milestone for Precision BioSciences' PBGENE-HBV program, representing the first-ever in vivo gene editing therapy for chronic hepatitis B to enter clinical trials. The ARCUS platform's unique approach targeting cccDNA elimination addresses the root cause of HBV infection, setting it apart from current treatments that only offer
The technology's precision and novel mechanism of action, combined with the large addressable market of 300 million chronic HBV patients globally, positions this as a potentially transformative therapy. The company's multi-country regulatory strategy and Moldova's high HBV prevalence provide a strong foundation for rapid trial enrollment and data generation. However, investors should note that as a first-in-human study, significant clinical validation is still needed to prove safety and efficacy.
This regulatory milestone significantly enhances DTIL's competitive position in the hepatitis B therapeutic space. With a market cap of
The strategic choice of Moldova for initial trials, coupled with pending applications in other jurisdictions, demonstrates efficient clinical development planning. This approach could accelerate the path to market while managing development costs effectively. The upcoming investor event and AASLD meeting presentations could serve as near-term catalysts for stock movement.
- Clinical Trial Application accepted in
- PBGENE-HBV is the first in vivo gene editing program for chronic hepatitis B virus to move into global clinical trials
- Company to host investor event highlighting clinical candidate safety data and plans for the Phase 1 trial prior to American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Annual Meeting
“At Precision, we remain laser-focused on execution, and our first CTA approval for PBGENE-HBV represents another significant milestone as we complete our transition to a clinical stage in vivo gene editing company. With rapid regulatory approval in hand, we are working diligently to screen and dose patients at our first clinical site in Moldova,” said Michael Amoroso, Chief Executive Officer of Precision BioSciences. “In parallel, we are leveraging our robust regulatory package, which highlights the safety and potent antiviral effects of PBGENE-HBV in a variety of models, including non-human primates, to pursue additional CTA and IND approvals globally. This multi-track approach will enable us to accelerate enrollment into the trial and generate important clinical safety and efficacy data with the aim of bringing a potentially curative treatment to the nearly 300 million patients living with chronic hepatitis B globally.”
Prior to PBGENE-HBV, no other modality has been investigated in a clinical trial setting that is designed to eliminate the root cause of disease, the cccDNA. Additionally, the current standard of care requires daily chronic treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogs and only offers patients a 1
“We are thrilled to receive CTA approval in
Precision has submitted multiple global clinical trial applications and is on track to submit additional CTA and IND filings as part of its global Phase 1 regulatory strategy for PBGENE-HBV. The company will provide updates as it receives additional regulatory approvals to begin treating patients in those markets. The company plans to provide an update on the PBGENE-HBV program on November 15th before the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Annual Meeting in November. Detailed information on how to join the webcast will be provided in the future.
About Hepatitis B:
Hepatitis B is a leading cause of morbidity in the US and death globally, with no curative options currently available for patients. In 2019, despite the availability of approved antiviral therapies, an estimated 300 million people globally and more than 1 million people in the US were estimated to have chronic hepatitis B infection. An estimated
Chronic hepatitis B infection is primarily driven by persistence of HBV cccDNA and integration of HBV DNA into the human genome in liver cells, the primary source of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in late-stage disease. Current treatments for patients with HBV infection include agents that result in long-term viral suppression as indicated by reduction of circulating HBV DNA, but these therapies do not eradicate HBV cccDNA, rarely lead to functional cure, and require lifelong administration.
About PBGENE-HBV:
PBGENE-HBV is a potentially curative approach to treating patients with chronic HBV infection through a highly specific, novel therapeutic approach. PBGENE leverages the ARCUS® platform and is designed to directly eliminate cccDNA and inactivate integrated HBV DNA with high specificity, potentially leading to functional cures.
About Precision BioSciences, Inc.
Precision BioSciences, Inc. is a clinical stage gene editing company dedicated to improving life (DTIL) with its novel and proprietary ARCUS® genome editing platform that differs from other technologies in the way it cuts, its smaller size, and its simpler structure. Key capabilities and differentiating characteristics may enable ARCUS nucleases to drive more intended, defined therapeutic outcomes. Using ARCUS, the Company’s pipeline is comprised of in vivo gene editing candidates designed to deliver lasting cures for the broadest range of genetic and infectious diseases where no adequate treatments exist. For more information about Precision BioSciences, please visit www.precisionbiosciences.com.
The ARCUS® platform is being used to develop in vivo gene editing therapies for sophisticated gene edits, including gene insertion (inserting DNA into gene to cause expression/add function), elimination (removing a genome e.g. viral DNA or mutant mitochondrial DNA), and excision (removing a large portion of a defective gene by delivering two ARCUS nucleases in a single AAV).
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the clinical development and expected safety, efficacy and benefit of our product candidates (including PBGENE-HBV) and gene editing approaches including editing efficiency; the design of PBGENE-HBV to directly eliminate cccDNA and inactivate integrated HBV DNA with high specificity, potentially leading to functional cures or providing a better chance of functional cures; the suitability of ARCUS nucleases for gene elimination, insertion and excision and differentiation from other gene editing approaches due to its small size, simplicity and distinctive cut; the expected timing of regulatory processes (including filings such as IND’s and CTA’s and studies for PBGENE-HBV and the acceptance of these filings by regulatory agencies); the translation of preclinical safety and efficacy studies and models to safety and efficacy in humans, the suitability of PBGENE-HBV for the treatment of hepatitis and the targeting of the root cause of the disease, expectations about operational initiatives, strategies, and further development of our programs; expectations about achievement of key milestones; and anticipated timing of clinical data. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “approach,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “designed,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “look,” “may,” “mission,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “pursue,” “should,” “strive,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or the negative thereof and similar words and expressions.
Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various important factors, including, but not limited to, our ability to become profitable; our ability to procure sufficient funding to advance our programs; risks associated with our capital requirements, anticipated cash runway, requirements under our current debt instruments and effects of restrictions thereunder, including our ability to raise additional capital due to market conditions and/or our market capitalization; our operating expenses and our ability to predict what those expenses will be; our limited operating history; the progression and success of our programs and product candidates in which we expend our resources; our limited ability or inability to assess the safety and efficacy of our product candidates; the risk that other genome-editing technologies may provide significant advantages over our ARCUS technology; our dependence on our ARCUS technology; the initiation, cost, timing, progress, achievement of milestones and results of research and development activities and preclinical and clinical studies, including clinical trial and investigational new drug applications; public perception about genome editing technology and its applications; competition in the genome editing, biopharmaceutical, and biotechnology fields; our or our collaborators’ or other licensees’ ability to identify, develop and commercialize product candidates; pending and potential product liability lawsuits and penalties against us or our collaborators or other licensees related to our technology and our product candidates; the
All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, we have no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.
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Investor Contact:
Naresh Tanna
Vice President, Investor Relations
Naresh.Tanna@precisionbiosciences.com
Source: Precision BioSciences, Inc.
FAQ
What is the significance of DTIL's PBGENE-HBV CTA approval in Moldova?
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