Vir Biotech's HBV Candidates Show Positive Safety Profiles

Vir Biotechnology Inc VIR has announced new data from its ongoing Phase 2 trials of VIR-2218 and Phase 1 studies of VIR-3434 in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
The results were presented at the European Association for the Study of the Liver International Liver Congress 2021.
Data demonstrated an encouraging safety profile and the potential durable response of VIR-2218, an investigational small interfering ribonucleic acid, through 48 weeks.
In a separate analysis evaluating VIR-2218 in combination with pegylated interferon alfa for 12 weeks, a more rapid and substantial HBsAg decline was observed in the co-administration cohort compared to VIR-2218 alone.
The treatment regimen resulted in no new safety signals.
Additionally, two new analyses from the Phase 1 trial of VIR-3434 showed no safety signals in healthy volunteers dosed with up to 3,000 mg.
The company plans to start a VIR-3434 - VIR-2218 combination trial in the second half of 2021.
Price Action: VIR shares are down 6.9% at $46.17 during the market session on the last check Friday.