Arbutus scuttles lead HBV capsid inhibitor program

Arbutus scrapped plans to start a combination trial next year due to the emergence of a safety signal in two healthy volunteers in a Phase I study of AB-506, an oral capsid inhibitor expected to be part of a regimen to treat HBV.

Arbutus Biopharma Corp. (NASDAQ:ABUS) said late Thursday it has discontinued development of AB-506 after seeing two cases of acute hepatitis. The company is mining its follow-on capsid inhibitors for use in combinations, and hopes to identify a candidate by December for IND-enabling studies...