Brii Biosciences, Vir Biotech, VBI Vaccines Start Combination Therapy Hepatitis B Study

• Privately-held Brii Biosciences, Vir Biotechnology Inc (NASDAQ: VIR), and VBI Vaccines Inc (NASDAQ: VBIV) have dosed the first patient in a Phase 2 trial evaluating BRII-835 (VIR-2218) in combination with BRII-179 (VBI-2601) for the treatment of chronic HBV infection.

• The open-label study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BRII-835 (VIR-2218) compared to the combination of BRII-835 (VIR-2218) and BRII-179 (VBI-2601) with and without interferon-alpha as a co-adjuvant.

• Brii Bio has led the design and implementation of this functional cure proof-of-concept study and is the sponsor of the Phase 2 study.

• BRII-835 (VIR-2218) is an investigational subcutaneously administered HBV-targeting siRNA that has the potential to stimulate an effective immune response and have direct antiviral activity against HBV.

• VBI-2601 (BRII-179) is a recombinant, protein-based HBV immunotherapeutic candidate that builds upon the 3-antigen conformation of VBI's prophylactic 3-antigen HBV vaccine candidate and is designed to target enhanced B-cell and T-cell immunity.

• Price Action: VBIV shares 1.9% at $2.66, while VIR shares are down 1.9% at $47.5 in premarket trading on the last check Wednesday.

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