Novartis-partnered biotech nabs new cash, boosting efforts to develop 'functional cure' for chronic hepatitis B

17 Aug 2022
endpts.com
VaccineAntibodySmall molecular drugCollaborate
Every year, 820,000 people die of chronic hepatitis B infections globally, and 1.5 million get infected, despite the availability of vaccines and treatments, according to the CDC. Current standard-of-care treatments can be effective in stopping virus replication, but they require patients to be on meds for life. Bluejay Therapeutics, which was founded in 2019, is trying to change that, aiming to develop a functional cure for hepatitis B infections by making HBsAg — viral protein-surface antigens — completely undetectable within six months of treatment. And it’s got a new round of cash to try making it a reality. The company closed a $41 million Series B round Tuesday led by Arkin Bio Ventures. This round included participation from other new and existing investors, including Synergenics LLC, RiverVest Venture Partners, Yonjin Capital, Octagon Capital and InnoPinnacle International. “Vaccines are available but not everyone has access to it. For instance, the UK health system does not even cover it,” said Keting Chu, Bluejay’s founder and CEO. “When patients stop taking medicine, the virus rebounds,” Chu added. Even when patients are on meds, their bodies continue to make HBsAg, which causes chronic inflammation that eventually leads to liver cirrhosis and cancer. These HBsAg antigens, when produced in the body, cause “exhaustion” of the immune system, specifically the B cell and T cell, said Chu. Bluejay’s lead asset is BJT-778, an antibody against HBsAg antigens, which the company has licensed from Novartis. “The goal is to restore T cell and B cell functions to get immune control and achieve a functional cure,” Chu said. Funding from this round will support the clinical development of BJT-778, a human anti-HBsAg monoclonal antibody, to demonstrate proof-of-concept in chronic hepatitis B patients. It will also fund the development of BJT-574, an orally bioavailable small molecule HBsAg inhibitor, into first-in-human clinical trials, the company said. The hepatitis B virus is mostly transmitted from mother to child during birth and delivery, as well as through contact with blood or other bodily fluids during sex with an infected partner, unsafe injections or exposure to sharp instruments. Once in the body, it causes chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer. Currently, there are seven drugs approved in the US for patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. These include five types of antiviral drugs that are taken as a pill once a day for one year or longer. And there are two types of immune modulator drugs, called “interferon,” that are given as an injection for six months to one year. Some of the major producers of these drugs include Gilead, GSK, Bristol Myers Squibb and Novartis.
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