CHR101 has the potential to eradicate HBV and to cure chronically infected HBV patients, in contrast to drugs currently on the market. CHR101 is predicted to have high selectivity and minimal off-target effects due to the absence of human cccDNA species. CHR101's activity is supported by a robust discovery preclinical data package.

 

About HBV cccDNA inhibitors

HBV cccDNA formation and recycling are central to establishing and maintaining persistent infection, limiting efficacy of antiviral nucleotides/nucleosides for treatment of chronic hepatitis B as those drugs do not directly target cccDNA.

Chromis' leading HBV program is focused on the discovery and development of small molecules that reduce or eliminate HBV cccDNA from the nuclei of infected liver cells (hepatocytes).

 

About HBV entry inhibitors

Continuous reinfection of new hepatocytes in the liver is indispensable for maintaining chronic HBV infection. Blocking hepatocyte reinfection on the early stages would have the potential to curb viral spread in the liver and eradicate chronic HBV infection. Such inhibitors could also be used to prevent reinfection of a new liver after transplantation.

Chromis had discovered several lead series, blocking early stages of the HBV infection in vitro. The molecular mechanism of action studies, as well as the SAR studies, are ongoing. 

 

About HBV core antigen assembly inhibitors

HBV core antigen assembly into capsids is central to viral life cycle, including genome replication, pregenomic RNA encapsidation, virion maturation and egress. 

Chromis is using its proprietary in vitro HBV core assembly model, superior to those currently used by others, to identify and develop small molecules that interfere with HBV core assembly, leading to formation of immature/non-functional core particles.