Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - As of June 30, 2025, the company's bank deposits and cash and cash equivalents were $2,075.3 million, representing a decrease of $338.1 million or 14% compared to $2,413.4 million at the end of 2024 [26] - Other income for the first half of the year was $28.1 million, a decrease of $42.8 million or 60.4% compared to $70.9 million for the same period in 2024 [27] - Research and development expenses for the first half of the year declined by 7.3% to $117 million from $126.2 million in 2024 [28] - Administrative expenses were $58.2 million in the first half of the year, declining 26% compared to $78.6 million in 2024 [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The HBV functional cure strategy is built on three differentiated assets: BRE-179, elapsirin, and tolivibart, each targeting distinct mechanisms of HBV pathogenesis [7] - The ongoing clinical programs have collectively been studied in more than 1,600 patients, with three fully enrolled Phase IIb combination studies [9] - In cohort four of the INSURE study, 61% of BRE-179 responders achieved HB surface antigen loss at week 48, compared to about 10% of non-responders [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company out-licensed the Greater China rights of Xarelin mixing to ensure efficient progress of non-core programs without diverting focus from HBV [5] - The company is seeking strategic partnerships to develop other assets in its pipeline, including long-acting HBV candidates [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on advancing its core HBV functional cure program through multiple Phase 2b studies and is shaping its late-stage development strategy based on emerging data [4] - The company aims to achieve a higher rate of functional cure through a multimodal parallel approach, which is critical to solving the complexity of HBV cure [24] - The company plans to report 24-week follow-up data from cohort four of the INSURE study in 2025, with end-of-treatment data from the ENRICH and ENHANCE studies expected in 2026 [24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed excitement about the development of new treatment modalities for HBV and the company's focus on providing a curative regimen [48] - The company believes that the recent launch of a new reporting system by the China CDC will improve the diagnostic rate of HBV, potentially increasing treatment demand [44] Other Important Information - The company has maintained a strong cash position with sufficient funds to support operations through 2028 [26] - The company is committed to pairing internal innovation with external collaboration to drive sustainable growth and broaden patient access to meaningful treatment options [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: Given the encouraging 61% seroclearance rate in BRE-179 responders from INSURE study cohort number four, how is the company thinking about patient enrichment strategy moving forward? - Management acknowledged the potential of BRE-179 to categorize chronic HBV patients into immune responsive and non-responsive groups and is exploring biomarker-driven approaches for Phase III trials [32][34] Question: What is the company's view on the competitive landscape considering recent phase three trials initiated by OSPER Bio? - Management expressed excitement about new treatment modalities for HBV and noted the importance of long-term follow-up data from competitors to evaluate the evolving landscape [38][40] Question: How does the company assess the potential impact of the new reporting system launched by the China CDC on treatment demands? - Management views the new reporting system as a positive development that could increase diagnosis rates and improve disease awareness, ultimately benefiting patients [44][46]