Arbutus Biopharma (ABUS) H.C. Wainwright 26th Annual Global Investment Conference 2024 summary

Conference introduction

• H.C. Wainwright 26th Annual Global Investment Conference opened with a presentation from Arbutus Biopharma, led by Interim President and CEO Michael McElhaugh.

Disease landscape and unmet need

• Over 250 million people globally are chronically infected with hepatitis B, with significant populations in China, the US, and Europe.

• Annual deaths from hepatitis B reach 820,000, with low diagnosis and treatment rates at 13% and 3%, respectively.

• Current therapies require lifelong treatment and achieve functional cure in less than 5% of patients.

Functional cure strategy and pipeline

• Functional cure defined as undetectable HBV DNA and surface antigen for 24 weeks off therapy.

• Approach targets viral DNA suppression, antigen reduction, and immune system boosting.

• Pipeline includes RNAi therapeutic Imdusiran (phase II), PD-L1 inhibitor AB-101 (phase I), and combination trials with Barinthus Biotherapeutics.