Barinthus Bio to Present VTP-300 Updates at EASL 2024

Barinthus Biotherapeutics plc (NASDAQ: BRNS), a biopharmaceutical firm in the clinical stage, focuses on developing innovative T cell immunotherapies aimed at combating chronic infectious diseases, autoimmunity, and cancer. The company recently revealed that its hepatitis B-targeted immunotherapy candidate, VTP-300, will be featured in both poster and oral presentations at the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Congress from June 5-8, 2024, in Milan, Italy.

Bill Enright, CEO of Barinthus Bio, expressed enthusiasm about presenting the updated data from their January abstract. He emphasized the severe, often asymptomatic nature of hepatitis B, which can lead to significant liver damage. Enright highlighted the chronic impact of hepatitis B on quality of life and the company's dedication to achieving a functional cure.

The poster presentation, numbered 2823, is titled "VTP-300 immunotherapeutic, plus low dose PD-1 inhibitor, nivolumab, continues to show meaningful, sustained reductions in HBsAg levels." Scheduled for June 5 from 08:30 to 18:00 CET, the presentation will disclose preliminary data indicating that VTP-300, combined with nivolumab, is generally well-tolerated and effective in reducing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels across all study groups. This presentation will also include additional interim data on NUC discontinuation, HBV markers, immunology, and safety.

A subsequent oral presentation, abstract number 505, is set for June 6 from 17:00 to 18:15 CET. Titled "Imdusiran (AB-729) administered every 8 weeks for 24 weeks followed by the immunotherapeutic VTP-300 maintains lower HBV surface antigen levels in NUC-suppressed CHB subjects than 24 weeks of imdusiran alone," the presentation will demonstrate that a regimen of Imdusiran followed by VTP-300 shows superior tolerance and results in reduced HBsAg levels compared to placebo at week 60. Furthermore, more subjects treated with VTP-300 qualified to discontinue NUC therapy than those given a placebo. The presentation will also cover on-treatment follow-up and NUC discontinuation data, including HBV parameters and immunology.

VTP-300, consisting of initial doses using the ChAdOx vector and subsequent doses using the MVA vector, encodes multiple hepatitis B antigens. It is the first antigen-specific immunotherapy proven to induce sustained reductions in HBsAg. Barinthus Bio is exploring combinations of VTP-300 with other agents like siRNA and low-dose anti-PD-1 antibodies to control infection and mitigate immune suppression and T cell exhaustion caused by chronic HBV infection.

Globally, an estimated 254 million people are living with chronic HBV infection, including up to 2.4 million in the U.S. and 10.6 million in Europe, with the highest prevalence in East Asia and Africa. In 2022, approximately 1.1 million people died from HBV and its complications, such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Low diagnosis rates contribute to this issue, with only 13% of those with chronic hepatitis B aware of their condition, and less than 3% receiving antiviral treatment by the end of 2022.

Barinthus Bio's work centers around three proprietary platform technologies: ChAdOx, MVA, and SNAP. Its development pipeline includes VTP-300 for chronic HBV infection, VTP-200 for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), VTP-1000 for celiac disease, and VTP-850 for recurrent prostate cancer. The company's scientific expertise and diverse portfolio aim to address significant health challenges and improve the lives of those affected by chronic infectious diseases, autoimmunity, and cancer.