Recently, Shanghai Longwood Biopharmaceuticals (LWBP) shared the latest research poster of LW231, a self-developed novel Hepatitis B drug, at AASLD2023-The Liver Meeting held in Boston, USA.
As the world's largest and most influential academic conference on liver diseases, AASLD2023-The Liver Meeting brings together nearly 10,000 top liver experts, scholars and professionals from around the world to discuss the latest advances in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases.
During the meeting, LWBP shared the latest research results of LW231, a FIC Bi-functional oral small molecule hepatitis B drug developed independently by LWBP. Pre-clinical studies have shown that LW231 not only inhibits viral replication, but also activates the autoimmune system, clears HBV-positive hepatocytes, and without rebound after discontinuing the drug, thereby achieving the goal of a complete cure of hepatitis B. The goal of complete cure of hepatitis B (virological cure) was achieved in animal experiments, showing a great potential of LW231 to become a landmark drug for hepatitis B complete cure.
Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) is a chronic liver infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), and long-term infection can lead to diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 300 million people are currently infected with hepatitis B worldwide. Currently, there are two main R&D strategies available for a cure for hepatitis B: one is direct antiviral drugs, which directly target HBV to inhibit its replication, and the other is immunomodulatory drugs, which clear HBV infection by activating the immune system. There is no cure for hepatitis B on the market yet, and the clinic mainly relies on nucleoside analogues such as ETV and TAF. These drugs can only inhibit the expansion of the virus, but cannot clear the infected hepatocytes, and once the drug is discontinued, the virus will rebound rapidly.
The clinical phase I trial of LW231 has been completed with excellent safety data, and the experimental results show a perfect Q.D. dosing profile with a high potential for commercialization. The clinical phase II trial is expected to be initiated in 2024.The updated research results of LW231 have gained wide attention and high evaluation from the experts and scholars attending the meeting. The breakthrough progress of LW231 in the goal of complete cure of hepatitis B is expected to be a milestone for mankind to overcome the hepatitis B.
About LWBP：
Founded in 2012, LWBP is an innovative drug R&D company led by world-renowned chemical drug experts. The company is committed to independently developing world-leading innovative drugs with global intellectual property rights to meet unmet clinical needs. Focusing on the development and industrialization of innovative drugs in the fields of antiviral, tumour immunity and autoimmune diseases, the company has carried out a number of self-developed small molecule drugs (FIC, first in class), and a number of them have entered the clinical trial stage. The core products have reached the international leading level in terms of clinical evaluation indexes, and are expected to become a major breakthrough in the relevant fields（New Class, First-in-Class）.
About LW231：
LW231 is the world's first bi-functional hepatitis B drug entered into the clinical stage which independently developed by LWBP, with novel structure (new class, first in class) and intellectual property rights have covered the major national regions all over the world. LW231 is a potential breakthrough drug that has been proved to be a complete cure for hepatitis B in animal models and has the potential to achieve a complete cure for hepatitis B in clinical studies, which is of great scientific and social values. Pre-clinical studies have shown that LW231 can effectively remove HBV-infected positive hepatocytes, and there is no rebound after discontinuing the drug. Currently, there are nearly 100 drugs in various stages of R&D for the treatment of hepatitis B worldwide, but no drug has been found to cure hepatitis B completely. LW231, developed by LWBP, is very likely to cure hepatitis B in clinical research, and will become a milestone in the treatment of hepatitis B, which will be a major contribution of LWBP to human health.
