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Vaccitech Doses 1st Patient in HBV002, a Phase 1b/2a Clinical Trial of VTP300 immunotherapeutic candidate for Chronic HBV
Vaccitech Doses 1st Patient in HBV002, a Phase 1b/2a Clinical Trial of VTP300 immunotherapeutic candidate for Chronic HBV
01 February 2021
Oxford, UK – 1st February 2021 – Vaccitech Ltd, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged
in the discovery and development of novel immunotherapeutics and vaccines for the treatment and
prevention of infectious diseases and cancer, today announced the dosing of the first patient in
HBV002. HBV002 is a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety and preliminary
efficacy of VTP-300 both with and without a low-dose anti-PD-1 antibody in patients with chronic
hepatitis B (CHB) infection. The study plans to enroll 64 patients in South Korea, Taiwan and the UK.
VTP-300 will utilize Vaccitech’s ChAdOx1-MVA prime-boost combination to elicit an immune
response against HBV. The HBV DNA sequence contained in the viral vectors is derived from a
genotype C sequence, which is the most common genotype circulating worldwide. The platform has
demonstrated robust activation of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells (immune cells associated with clearance of
HBV infected cells), which are believed to have the potential to lead to a functional cure in
combination with current anti-viral therapy and a low-dose checkpoint inhibitor.
“HBV infection is a serious chronic viral infection of the liver that affects an estimated 257 million
people worldwide, including more than two million in the U.S. and 13 million in Europe, and results
in approximately 880 thousand deaths per year,” said Bill Enright, Chief Executive Officer of
Vaccitech. “Prophylactic vaccines cannot treat HBV infection, and there are no highly effective
curative regimens. VTP-300, which we designed as a potential functional cure of chronic HBV,
represents an opportunity to address this serious unmet need. We are looking forward to the results
of this trial, and if successful, advancing VTP-300 into later clinical development.”
Prof Ellie Barnes, from University of Oxford, and Chief Investigator on the HBV002 trial says, “By
targeting the HBV genotype C, which is the most prevalent worldwide and is particularly common
where the virus is endemic, we have designed an immunotherapeutic to address a very broad
population of patients. We also believe it may induce T cell responses against other common
genotypes, and given the promising preclinical results, we are very excited to see the first patient
treated in this latest clinical trial.”
-ENDS
Notes to editors:
About Vaccitech Ltd.
Vaccitech is a clinical stage T cell immunotherapy and vaccine company developing products to treat
infectious diseases and cancer. The company’s proprietary platform, comprising Chimpanzee
Adenovirus (prime) and MVA (boost) is designed to induce, boost and maintain CD8+ and CD4+ T
cells, as well as antibodies. The Vaccitech prime-boost platform is licensed from one of the most
prestigious vaccine research institutes in the world, the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford.
In partnership with the Jenner, Vaccitech co-invented and led aspects of the early development
of a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) vaccine, based upon its proprietary Chimpanzee Adenovirus Oxford,
or ChAdOx1, platform. The COVID-19 vaccine, now known as AZD1222, was assigned by Vaccitech to
Oxford University Innovation and has been licensed by Oxford University Innovation to AstraZeneca,
which has received emergency use authorization in countries across the world.
Vaccitech has multiple therapeutic programs in the clinic including a Phase 1/2 program for chronic
HBV and HPV, a Phase 2 program for prostate cancer, as well as a program preparing to enter the
clinic for NSCLC. The company is also co-developing prophylactic products for MERS coronavirus and
Herpes Zoster with international collaborators. Vaccitech is backed by leading institutions including
GV, Sequoia Capital China, Korea Investment Partners and Oxford Sciences Innovation.
Media contacts:
Katja Stout, Scius Communications (EU)
Direct: +44 (0) 7789435990
Email: katja@sciuscommunications.com
Ryo Imai / Robert Flamm, Ph.D. (U.S.)
Burns McClellan, Inc.
212-213-0006 ext. 315 / 364
Rimai@burnsmc.com / rflamm@burnsmc.com
Henry Hodge, Vaccitech
Direct: +44 (0) 7533 421 442
Email: henry.hodge@vaccitech.co.uk
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