OCEA) Announces First Patients to Receive Novel Immunotherapy to Evaluate Functional Cure of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Philadelphia, October 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Virion Therapeutics, LLC, a company clinical stage biotechnology company develop Novel immunotherapy based on T cells, and its joint venture partner Ocean Biomedical, Inc. (Nasdaq: OCEA) announced today The first patients have been dosed in this phase 1 B clinical trials of its investigational VRON-0200 immunotherapy, is being evaluated as Functional cure in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. VRON-0200 is a first-in-class treatment using one of Virion’s proprietary checkpoint modifiers, specifically designed to enhance and amplify a patient’s own immune response. This novel mechanism of action may help overcome one of the key issues in treating chronic hepatitis B – immune failure.The world’s first human body VRON-0200 stage 1 B The study is currently recruiting patients Hongkong and New Zealandand plans to USA. Preliminary clinical data from this study are expected in early 2024.

“The initiation and dosing of this VRON-0200 study into patients is a critical first step in evaluating its impact on the immune response to the virus in patients with chronic HBV infection, with the ultimate goal of finding a treatment for this insidious disease.” VRON How -0200 works is a completely new approach to anything that others have studied before or are currently developing – and we look forward to evaluating the first clinical data from this program early next year,” said PhD. Sue CurrieVirion Chief Operating Officer.

About chronic hepatitis B

Despite preventive vaccines, chronic hepatitis B (HBV) cases continue to increase, An estimated 296 million people worldwide are infected and 820,000 people die every year Avoid hepatitis B-related liver complications.This includes nearly 100 million people China Who is affected by this disease. Chronic hepatitis B remains a global health problem, with no cure and high medical needs. Current standards of care require lifelong antiviral treatment to control the virus.

Grace HuangMD, Professor of Medicine Chinese University of Hong Kong (Chinese University of Hong Kong), principal investigator of the VRON-0200 study

commented: “There is a strong need for new therapies that can control or potentially cure chronic HBV infection, are easy to administer, and are well tolerated, either alone or in combination with other therapies.” Wong added, “VRON- 0200 has the potential to amplify a patient’s own immune response to control infection, and combined with the way it is administered – as a single (prime) or double (prime and boost) injection into the arm muscle, “has the potential to become a innovative treatments to meet the unmet medical needs of chronic hepatitis B patients around the world. “

“These first patient doses in our lead-in VRON-0200 chronic HBV phase 1 B This study represents an important milestone in Virion’s mission to bring innovative immunotherapies to patients with cancer and chronic infectious diseases. ” Virion CEODr. Andrew Lubber. “Targeting T cell activation through checkpoint modification is unique to Virion. This first study using our first checkpoint modifier, gD, will not only benefit patients with chronic hepatitis B; Proprietary platform technologies and pipelines provide useful information, including VRON-0300, which is being developed for patients with advanced solid tumors,” Luber added.

Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Marine Biomed, commented: “This is another significant clinical and commercial value inflection point for our company. Treatments for chronic hepatitis B are in high demand and opportunities can be seized Estimated global market Will reach over US$6.5 billion by 2032. Companies at similar stages of VRON-0200 research as our joint venture have seen significant increases in value.For example, the value of VIR Biotechnology increase more than US$3.6 billion after they reported phase 1 data from their initial 8 patients. Ocean is pleased to partner with Virion to provide chronic hepatitis B patients around the world with this high-demand, high-value treatment aimed at achieving a functional cure. “

About VRON-0200

VRON-0200 is a therapeutic immunotherapy administered via intramuscular injection designed to provide functional cure for chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Although the virus itself stimulates HBV-specific CD8⁺ T cells, for patients who are unable to clear the initial infection, their T cells quickly become depleted, limiting their ability to proliferate and control the virus. Preclinical data support the hypothesis that VRON-0200, through checkpoint modification, can amplify, expand, and enhance T cell responses to include T cells that are not normally activated during chronic HBV infection, thereby improving viral control.

About Virion Therapeutics (Virion)

Virion Therapeutics, LLC is a clinical-stage company developing novel T cell-based immunotherapies to treat cancer and chronic infectious diseases utilizing proprietary genetically encoded checkpoint modifiers (CPMs) to enhance and expand CD8⁺T cell responses to tumors or chronic infections. Virion was founded in early 2018 and has since developed a strong pipeline, including its lead clinical program VRON-0200, as well as several other IND-supported programs, including VRON-0300 for advanced solid tumors leveraging its proprietary platform technology. academic projects. In early fall 2023, Virion and Ocean Biomedical formed a joint venture to accelerate and expand Virion’s pipeline of novel immunotherapies.

To learn more, please visit www.VirionTx.com

About marine biomedicine

Marine Biomedical Co., Ltd. is a Providence, Rhode IslandU.S.-based biopharmaceutical company with innovative business model that accelerates the development and commercialization of scientifically compelling assets at research universities and medical centers. Marine Biomedicine leverages funding and expertise to efficiently move new treatment candidates from the laboratory to the clinic and into the world. Ocean Biomedical is currently developing five promising discoveries that have the potential to deliver life-changing results in the prevention and treatment of lung cancer, brain cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, and malaria. Marine biomedical teams are working to solve some of the world’s toughest problems for the people who need help most.

To learn more, please visit www.oceanbiomedical.com.

forward-looking statements

The information contained herein and any oral statements made on behalf of Ocean Biomedical, Inc. (the “Company”) or other information relating thereto include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Safe Harbor provisions of 1995 Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of the Year. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect” and other words. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target” or other similar expressions predict or indicate future events or trends or are statements that are not historical events, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and projections of financial and performance metrics and expectations; the expected timing and success of IND filings for our initial product candidates; statements regarding the expected timing of our IND-enabling studies; the filing of additional INDs frequency and timing; expectations regarding the availability of future assets and additions to our pipeline; the strengths of any of our pipeline assets and platforms; the potential benefits of our product candidates; potential commercial opportunities; the timing of key milestones in our plans; the future our financial condition, results of operations, business strategies and plans, and management’s objectives for future strategies and operations; and statements regarding industry trends and other companies in the industry. These forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions (whether or not identified herein) and the current expectations of the Company’s management and are not predictions of current performance. These forward-looking statements are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be, and no investor may rely on, them as guarantees, guarantees, predictions or express statements of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from those hypothesized.

Any findings announced by the company are based solely on laboratory and animal studies. The company has not conducted any studies showing similar efficacy or safety in humans. There is no guarantee that any treatment tested by the Company will prove safe or effective in humans, and any clinical benefit from any such treatment is subject to clinical trials and final FDA approval for use in patients. If approved, it could be years away.

Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and therefore involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are beyond the company’s control, that may cause current circumstances to Results or results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements.You should carefully consider the above factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the Company’s subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov. These documents identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements we make. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s assessment as of any date subsequent to the date of this filing. Therefore, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

Contact information:
Virion Therapeutics LLC
Dr. Sue Currie
chief operating officer
(email protected)

Marine Biopharmaceutical Investor Relations
(email protected)
Kevin Kercher
communications director

SOURCE Virion Therapeutics, LLC