DTIL Gets FDA's Fast Track Tag for Hepatitis B Gene Therapy, Stock Up

Core Viewpoint - Precision BioSciences' shares surged 23.8% following the FDA's Fast Track designation for PBGENE-HBV, a gene editing program aimed at curing chronic hepatitis B by targeting cccDNA and integrated HBV DNA [1][2][3] Company Overview - PBGENE-HBV is the first gene editing program with a unique mechanism of action to enter clinical stages as a potential cure for chronic hepatitis B [3] - The company has received FDA clearance to initiate the phase I ELIMINATE-B study for PBGENE-HBV in the U.S., with simultaneous studies in other regions to enhance patient recruitment [4] - Currently, the company is enrolling patients in the low-dose cohort of the ELIMINATE-B study, with plans to escalate to higher doses in subsequent cohorts [5][7] Market Context - Chronic hepatitis B affects approximately 300 million people globally, with around 2 million in the U.S. facing significant health risks, including cirrhosis and liver cancer [8] - Existing antiviral treatments do not eliminate the virus, necessitating lifelong therapy without achieving a functional cure, highlighting the unmet medical need that PBGENE-HBV aims to address [9] Pipeline and Future Prospects - In addition to PBGENE-HBV, Precision BioSciences has several other gene therapy programs in preclinical evaluation, including a partnered candidate, ECUR-506, for treating neonatal onset ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency [10]