First-in-class active-site polymerase inhibitor yields Phase Ib/IIa data showing suppression of HBV DNA. It also demonstrated a good safety profile with normalization of liver enzymes.

Partnerships between big pharma and biotech focused on biologic therapies for hepatitis B could reap the benefit of less competition as lone biotechs, such as Aligos, discontinue their candidates.

The company’s triple-combination studies with vebicorvir and next-generation core inhibitor programs may hold more promise in hepatitis B.

Pharma’s latest partnerships focus on Duchenne muscular dystrophy with Precision Biosciences, protein degradation with Seed. Bristol and Schrodinger team in computational drug discovery.