Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: VIR) is making strides in its clinical programs, particularly in hepatitis and oncology, as highlighted in its third-quarter 2024 earnings call. The company has finalized a licensing agreement with Sanofi for three T-cell engager programs and is advancing its hepatitis trials, with key data presentations scheduled at the upcoming AASLD conference. These advancements underscore Vir's commitment to addressing unmet medical needs and improving patient outcomes in these critical areas.
Hepatitis Delta Program
Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) represents a significant growth opportunity for Vir, with an estimated 100,000 people living with HDV in the United States and approximately 200,000 in Europe. The company plans to initiate a registrational program for HDV in 2025, following the presentation of data from the Phase II SOLSTICE trial at the AASLD conference. The SOLSTICE trial is evaluating the combination regimen of tobevibart and elebsiran, which has shown promising preliminary data. In a rollover cohort, all participants achieved virologic suppression, and a significant proportion achieved target not detected, indicating no measurable presence of HDV RNA. The company believes this combination regimen is highly differentiated compared to the current standard of care, which often involves daily subcutaneous injections that pose challenges for long-term patient compliance.
Hepatitis B Program
Vir is also focused on developing a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B, targeting a sustained loss of detectable hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B virus DNA after a finite course of treatment. The company is looking forward to reporting end-of-treatment data from the MARCH Part B trial at the AASLD meeting, followed by functional cure data in the second quarter of 2025. The MARCH Part B trial is evaluating a combination regimen of tobevibart and elebsiran, with or without regulated pegylated interferon alpha. Vir's target for a functional cure is 30% for the interferon-containing regimen and 20% for the regimen excluding interferon. There are an estimated 1.6 million hepatitis B patients in the United States alone and approximately $254 million globally.
Oncology Pipeline Expansion
The licensing agreement with Sanofi has significantly expanded Vir's oncology pipeline, adding three clinical-stage masked T-cell engagers. These investigational treatments aim to minimize toxicity challenges typically associated with T-cell engagers, allowing for higher dosing and thereby enhancing efficacy. The T-cell engagers include VIR-5818 for HER2, VIR-5500 for PSMA, and VIR-5525 for EGFR. Phase I trials are ongoing for VIR-5818 and VIR-5500, with initial data expected in Q1 2025. VIR-5525 has a cleared IND, and the Phase I clinical study is expected to begin in Q1 2025.
Financial Highlights
Vir ended the third quarter with $1.19 billion in cash and equivalents. R&D expenses increased to $195 million in Q3, primarily due to expenses related to the Sanofi transaction. The company has updated its full-year 2024 expense guidance to between $660 million and $680 million, reflecting a focus on disciplined financial management and strategic restructuring to prioritize clinical-stage pipeline opportunities.
