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Arbutus drops hepatitis drug development after disappointing early-stage results

Arbutus Biopharma Corp. said it will discontinue the development of its experimental drug AB-506 for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B after disappointing results in an early-stage study.

In the 28-day phase 1a clinical trial of the drug AB-506, the Warminster, Pa.-based company noted two cases of acute hepatitis and decided to stop the study and halt further development of the drug as a result.

Chief Scientific Officer Michael Sofia said the company has a number of similar investigational drug candidates, of which one will be selected for further studies by December.

Arbutus plans to present detailed results from the phase 1a study later this year. The company also noted that it no longer expects to initiate a combination study of AB-506 and its other experimental hepatitis drug AB-729 in the second half of 2020.