Arbutus Biopharma Corp (NASDAQ: ABUS)

Arbutus Biopharma Corp (ABUS) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company operating in the biotechnology industry. The company's primary business activities involve the development of RNAi therapeutic, imdusiran (AB-729), and an oral PD-L1 inhibitor, AB-101, designed to target different steps in the HBV viral lifecycle. Arbutus's pipeline includes two product candidates that target HBV, with imdusiran being a subcutaneously-delivered RNAi therapeutic that reduces all HBV antigens and inhibits viral replication.

The company generates revenue through its collaboration with Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Qilu), which granted Arbutus a sublicensable, royalty-bearing license to develop and commercialize imdusiran for the treatment or prevention of hepatitis B in China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Arbutus also has a royalty entitlement to Alnylam's global net sales of ONPATTRO, which was approved by the FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2018.

Arbutus's RNAi therapeutic, imdusiran (AB-729), is a subcutaneously-delivered RNAi therapeutic that targets HBV antigens and inhibits viral replication. The company has generated meaningful clinical data demonstrating an impact on both surface antigen reduction and reawakening of the HBV-specific immune response. Imdusiran is currently in two Phase 2a combination clinical trials, evaluating its safety, tolerability, and antiviral activity in combination with Peg-IFNα-2a and VTP-300, an HBV antigen-specific immunotherapy.

AB-101 is an oral PD-L1 inhibitor that has the potential to reawaken patients' HBV-specific immune response by inhibiting PD-L1. The company has presented preclinical data showing that AB-101 mediates activation and reinvigoration of HBV-specific T-cells from cHBV infected patients. AB-101 is currently in a Phase 1a/1b clinical trial evaluating its safety, tolerability, and PK/PD in healthy subjects and patients with cHBV infection.

Arbutus operates in a highly competitive industry, with larger players such as Gilead Sciences and Merck & Co. having established products and pipelines in the hepatitis B space. However, Arbutus differentiates itself through its unique focus on developing RNAi therapeutics and oral PD-L1 inhibitors for the treatment of cHBV infection.

The company's competitive advantages include its expertise in virology and RNAi technology, its pipeline of novel product candidates, and its collaboration with Qilu, which provides access to the Chinese market. Arbutus's focus on developing RNAi therapeutics and oral PD-L1 inhibitors for the treatment of cHBV infection sets it apart from its competitors and provides a unique value proposition.

Arbutus does not have any publicly disclosed customers, as its products are still in development and have not yet been commercialized. The company's brand names and/or trade names of its products and services include imdusiran (AB-729) and AB-101.