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ARTICLE | Preclinical News

Arrowhead paper reveals additional HBV antigen source

September 28, 2017 10:34 PM UTC

A paper published in Science Translational Medicine by researchers at Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ARWR) and colleagues discovered that hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is expressed from HBV DNA transcripts integrated into the host genome in addition to those from viral covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), identifying a previously unrecognized source of an antigen that contributes to chronic HBV infection. The findings explain why some patients do not respond to therapy and suggest workarounds for targeting both antigen sources.

The paper draws on findings from the Phase II Heparc-2001 trial of Arrowhead's discontinued HBV candidate ARC-520, as well as a new set of preclinical studies designed to identify the resistance mechanism that prevented responses in certain types of patients...

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