AusperBio Raises $73M in Series B for Chronic Hepatitis B Cure

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 26, 2024 – AusperBio Therapeutics, Inc. and Ausper Biopharma Co., Ltd. (jointly known as AusperBio), a privately-owned biotechnology company in the clinical stage, has successfully raised USD 73 million in a Series B financing round. This funding round was spearheaded by HanKang Capital, with Sherpa Capital, CDH Investments, and a strategic investor also contributing. Existing investors such as Qiming Venture Partners, InnoPinnacle Fund, and YuanBio Venture Capital continued their financial support, reflecting sustained confidence in AusperBio’s innovative platform and strategic trajectory. This financial achievement follows the completion of the Series A round earlier in July, highlighting a pattern of robust investor trust.

The newly acquired funds are earmarked for advancing Phase 2 development of AHB-137, AusperBio’s lead investigational therapy. This includes supporting ongoing clinical studies both in China and internationally, as well as refining processes for commercial-scale manufacturing. Additionally, the investment will fuel the expansion of AusperBio’s therapeutic pipeline and enhance its operational capabilities, aiming to spur continuous growth.

Dr. Guofeng Cheng, a co-founder and the CEO of AusperBio, expressed gratitude towards the investors, noting that this financing milestone acknowledges the company’s scientific and clinical achievements thus far. He emphasized that the investment will enable the acceleration of their clinical programs, bringing them closer to providing a functional cure for those afflicted by chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Co-founder and CSO Dr. Chris Yang noted the growing attention AHB-137 has garnered from both scientific and clinical communities, especially following its presentation at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) conference. The encouraging clinical data showcased there further validates the Med-Oligo™ platform, reinforcing the development of pioneering targeted oligonucleotide treatments for CHB and other severe chronic conditions.

AusperBio is firmly committed to patient-focused innovations, striving to lessen the global health burden posed by CHB and to transform treatment paradigms for this serious chronic illness.

About AHB-137

AHB-137 is an innovative unconjugated antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) crafted through AusperBio’s proprietary Med-Oligo™ technology platform, specifically designed to combat chronic hepatitis B with a view to achieving a functional cure. The promising preclinical and Phase 1 clinical results were showcased at the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) conferences in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Interim data from Phase 2a was presented during a notable oral session at the 2024 AASLD. This groundbreaking dual-mechanism ASO has concluded its global Phase 1b trial and is currently undergoing several Phase 2 trials in China. Utilizing a global development strategy, AHB-137 is progressing swiftly towards the goal of a hepatitis B virus (HBV) cure.

About AusperBio

AusperBio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical entity with operations in the USA and China. It is dedicated to advancing oligonucleotide and targeted delivery technologies to create transformative therapies, particularly focusing on curing chronic hepatitis B. The company’s proprietary Med-Oligo™ ASO platform has significantly enhanced existing ASO therapies through novel design insights. When combined with efficient targeted delivery conjugation technologies, the modular Med-Oligo™ Platform empowers ASO therapeutics to address a broad range of diseases, including viral infections, metabolic conditions, genetic disorders, and immune diseases.