Adoptive transfer with T cells expressing anti-HBV TCRs for HBV

INDICATION: Hepatitis B virus (HBV)

T cells engineered to express HBV-specific TCRs could help treat HBV infection. Incubation of HBV-infected human liver cells with HBV-targeted T cells reduced hepatocyte levels of HBsAg and HBeAg as well as secreted and intracellular viral DNA levels. The engineered T cells decreased viral load and HBsAg and HBeAg concentrations in the sera; and intrahepatic levels of HBV RNA and covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which mediates viral persistence, in mice infected with HBV. Also in infected mice, a single adoptive transfer of the T cells in combination with continuous infusion of Myrcludex B, an HBV entry inhibitor, eliminated detectable HBV-positive hepatocytes...