Preclinical data shows that a single dose of the company’s epigenetic editor can permanently silence HBV expression and virtually eliminate circulating HBV DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) without cleaving or cutting the DNA.
boston, September. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/—— Chroma MedicineInc., (Chroma), a genomic medicine company pioneering single-dose epigenetic editing therapies, today provided positive preclinical data demonstrating the efficacy of its epigenetic editor against hepatitis B virus (HBV) production during treatment , specificity and the potential for long-lasting silencing. 2023 International Conference on Hepatitis B held September 19-23 exist Kobe, Japan.
Chronic hepatitis B has no cure, increases the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, affects nearly 300 million people worldwide, and causes more than 800,000 deaths each year. Antiviral therapy can suppress viral replication but requires lifelong administration, and few patients achieve functional cure due to the persistence of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and the integration of HBV DNA into the host genome.
Current gene editing methods rely on targeted DNA breaks, which poses a risk of translocation or increased viral integration into the host genome, thus limiting their utility in effectively addressing HBV. By leveraging endogenous cellular machinery to regulate gene expression, Chroma’s epigenetic editors efficiently, specifically, and persistently silence HBV expression, potentially enabling functional cures without introducing the surprises associated with traditional gene editing methods Chromosomal effects.
Chroma identifies several epigenetic suppressors in the HBV genome, targeting HBV cccDNA and integrated DNA from multiple genotypes, which can effectively and durably reduce hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B in cell models of HBV infection. Hepatitis e antigen (HBeAg).
Data show that a single administration of Chroma’s epigenetic editor potently and long-lasting suppresses serum viral markers in transgenic HBV mice, with 5 of 6 animals (83%) at the last time point tested (>5 month) exhibited undetectable HBV DNA and HBsAg.
“Our epigenetic editing method has the potential for efficient, specific and durable silencing of both episomal and integrated HBV, regardless of viral genotype,” he said. Vic Myers, Ph.D., President and CSO of Chroma. “These results are encouraging demonstrations of the potential of our platform to advance a novel class of genomic medicines into the clinic and bring hope for a functional cure for patients with chronic hepatitis B.”
Details of Chroma’s speech at the HBV International Conference are as follows:
title: Developing epigenetic repressors for HBV to achieve deep and long-lasting silencing of viral markers in vivo
host: Dr. Yesseinia Anglero-Rodriguez, Chief Scientist, Chroma Medicine
Date and time: Wednesday, September 20, 20235:15pm – 7:15pm JST (4:15a – 6:15a ET)
Meeting: Poster Session I
After the conference, the presentation will be posted on the Chroma website.
About Chroma Medicine
Chroma Medicine is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of genomic medicines that leverage epigenetics, nature’s inherent mechanism of gene regulation, to deliver precise, programmable, single-dose treatments while maintaining genomic integrity. The company was founded by the world’s foremost experts in genomic research and is led by a veteran team of industry leaders and scientists with extensive experience in genomic medicine, drug discovery and development.For more information, visit chromamedicine.com or follow us LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).
SOURCE Chroma Medicine
