Replies to post #238530 on Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

ABUS starts_what_looks_like_another_futile_combination_trial: AB-729; Antios Therapeutics’ ATI-2173, a nucleotide polymerase inhibitor; and tenofovir (another nuke):

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/arbutus-biopharma-antios-therapeutics-announce-110000743.html

ABUS is already conducting a combination trial of AB-729 with ASMB’s ABI-H0731 that I would characterize as futile insofar as ABI-H0731 is effectively an obsolete compound (#msg-157913492, #msg-162149575).

All told, I would say that ABUS is flailing.

[willyw]

I made a point of listening (again) to the last 3 Enanta presentations (2 in June, and 1 in May).
I also listened to the ABUS AB-729 June 28 presentation - EASL summary.

I wasn't that impressed - some of the questions raised in the Q and A indicated that ABUS may have more work ahead. (market closed -6.5%)

They experienced grade 1 & 2 ALT and AST elevations in their 3 cohorts. (11:18)

ABUS AB-729 had a less powerful reduction in viral load reduction compared to Enanta compounds.

ABUS in the closing moments indicated that they too were investigating a "a next generation oral HBV specific RNA de-stabilizer."

So in summary, ABUS has a compound (AB-729) further ahead in development than ENTA, but it isn't clear that they possess the winning assets at this moment to be considered the leader in HBV.

Luly asserted that he expected (if all goes well) both EDP-514 and EDP-721 to be used next year with HBV viremic patients.

There seems little question that strides are being made in HBV and we may be seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

[DewDiligence]

ABUS starts_phase-2a_trial_testing interferon+nuke ± AB-729:

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/07/07/2258785/14025/en/Arbutus-Receives-Authorization-to-Proceed-with-an-Investigational-New-Drug-Application-IND-for-AB-729-its-Proprietary-Subcutaneously-Delivered-RNAi-Agent.html

There will be 8-12 patients in each of four arms: with/without AB-729; and treatment duration of 12 weeks or 24 weeks.