-  VLP BioTech Has Developed a Vaccine-Based Viral-Entry-Inhibitor for the 
Treatment of Chronic HBV/HDV. 

-  The Vaccine-Based Treatment Has Significant Advantages Compared to a 
Peptide-Based, Entry-Inhibitor (Hepcludex).

VLP BioTech, Inc., a private, preclinical biotechnology company, focused on 
designing epitope-based vaccines, announces the development of a therapeutic 
vaccine for the treatment of chronic HBV/HDV infections. In an important 
development in the treatment of chronic HBV/HDV infections MYR GmbH, to be 
acquired by Gilead Sciences, recently provided clinical proof-of-concept for 
the efficacy of a peptide-based viral entry inhibitor (Hepcludex). VLP BioTech 
is announcing the development of a more practical vaccine-based, viral entry 
inhibitor to block HBV/HDV liver invasion. VLP BioTech Inc. is seeking 
potential partners or licencees interested in clinical development of this 
technology or combination therapies.

MYR GmbH's therapeutic is a myristoylated PreS1 peptide that blocks viral entry 
into liver cells by binding the virus-specific hepatocyte receptor (NTCP), 
however, it requires daily peptide injections. Because HBV and HDV use the same 
receptor an entry-inhibitor is functional against both viruses. VLP BioTech's 
vaccine therapy is based on virus-like particles (VLPs) displaying multiple 
PreS1-specific B cell epitopes that bypass immune tolerance and elicit 
antibodies that directly bind the virus and prevent acute infection and clear 
serum HBV in a model of chronic infection. Vaccination is superior to peptide 
therapy because PreS1 antibodies bind the virus rather than the liver cell 
(less potential toxicity), requires 2-3 VLP injections spaced over months as 
opposed to daily peptide injections for 24-48 weeks, is significantly less 
expensive and anti-PreS1 antibodies have many effector functions against the 
virus that the peptide does not possess.

Our VLP-based approach is highly compatible with dual-mode or multii-mode 
therapies.  Indeed, we highlight a combination strategy to also elicit 
HBV-specific CTL in our recent publication 
(https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2019.1689745).  We are interested in finding 
a partner or licensee to advance this patent pending, immune therapy into 
clinical evaluation. If interested or for more information on the platform or 
our malaria vaccine contact dwhitacre@VLP-Biotech.com or dmilich@vrisd.org

SOURCE: VLP BioTech, Inc.