Excision Receives FDA Clearance of IND for Phase 1/2 Trial of EBT-101 CRISPR-Based Therapeutic for Treatment of HIV

• EBT-101, first-in-human CRISPR-based one-time gene therapy to be evaluated in individuals with HIV
• Initiation of EBT-101 Phase 1/2 clinical trial expected later this year

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Excision BioTherapeutics Inc., the developer of CRISPR-based therapies intended to cure viral infectious diseases, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for EBT-101, a CRISPR-based therapeutic candidate in development as a potential functional cure for chronic HIV. The IND clearance enables Excision to initiate a first-in-human Phase 1/2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of EBT-101 in individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV).

“The clearance of our IND application for EBT-101 represents an important milestone for Excision and is the result of years of commitment to developing a functional cure for individuals living with HIV,” said Daniel Dornbusch, Chief Executive Officer of Excision. “Although antiviral treatments can manage HIV infection, they require life-long treatment, cause side effects, and do not provide the possibility of a functional cure. We are grateful for the FDA’s engaged review and acceptance of the IND for EBT-101 and look forward to initiating the Phase 1/2 clinical trial later this year.”

EBT-101, an in vivo CRISPR-based therapeutic designed to excise HIV proviral DNA, is a unique gene therapy that leverages CRISPR’s evolutionary history as a viral defense system in bacteria. In preclinical studies, it has demonstrated the ability to excise HIV proviral DNA in multiple cell lines: human primary cells as well as multiple animal models including non-human primates. EBT-101 utilizes an adeno-associated virus (AAV) to deliver a one-time treatment intended to functionally cure HIV infections. The investigational program employs CRISPR-Cas9 and two guide RNAs which target three sites within the HIV genome, thereby excising large portions of the HIV genome and minimizing potential viral escape.

Lisa Danzig, MD, Excision’s Chief Medical Officer, added, “EBT-101 has demonstrated removal of proviral DNA in multiple animal models and offers an opportunity for individuals living with HIV to potentially cease life-long therapies. The Excision team looks forward to this important collaboration with our principal investigators, scientific advisors and regulators, to conduct a safe and informative trial with this first-in-class approach to a viral disease target previously considered to be incurable.”

About Excision BioTherapeutics, Inc.

Excision BioTherapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company developing CRISPR-based therapies intended to cure viral infectious diseases. Excision is focused on improving the lives of chronically ill patients by excising viral genomes from infected individuals. By using CRISPR in unique ways, the Company has demonstrated the first functional cure for HIV in animals. Excision is developing technologies and intellectual property developed at the Khalili lab at Temple University and the Doudna lab at U.C. Berkeley. Excision is located in San Francisco, California and is supported by ARTIS Ventures, GreatPoint Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, Adjuvant Capital, Cota Capital, Celesta Capital, IndusAge Partners, Loreda Holdings, Olive Tree, Anzu Partners, SilverRidge Venture Partners, Oakhouse Ventures, and Gaingels. For more information, please visit www.excision.bio.

Contacts:

Investors
Eric Ando
Burns McClellan, Inc.
212-213-0006
eando@burnsmc.com

Media
Robert Flamm, Ph.D. / Harrison Wong
Burns McClellan, Inc.
212-213-0006
rflamm@burnsmc.com / hwong@burnsmc.com