Arrowhead Research Corporation Induces 90% Reduction in Hepatitis B Antigens in Chimpanzee With Chronic Infection: Data Follow Previous Report of Reduction in Viral DNA

PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Arrowhead Research Corporation (NASDAQ: ARWR), a targeted therapeutics company, will host an analyst event today in New York City to discuss ARC-520, its RNAi-based candidate designed to treat chronic hepatitis B virus infection. The company will discuss the program and describe new preclinical data showing that a low dose of ARC-520 induced rapid and deep reductions in viral particles and key viral antigens in a chimpanzee chronically infected with hepatitis B virus. Arrowhead identified a well-tolerated dose of ARC-520 that lead to a 95% reduction in circulating viral DNA, and approximately 90% reductions in hepatitis e-antigen (HBeAg) and s-antigen (HBsAg), which are thought to be important in establishing a functional cure. These data support previous findings in rodent models and may be predictive of a therapeutic dose range to be identified in upcoming clinical trials expected to start in the middle of this year.