AusperBio Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, has secured $73 million in a Series B financing round to advance its lead investigational therapy, AHB-137, towards a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The funding will support ongoing Phase 2 clinical trials and the expansion of the company's therapeutic pipeline.
The Series B round was led by HanKang Capital, with participation from Sherpa Capital, CDH Investments, and other strategic and existing investors. This financial boost follows a Series A round completed in July, reflecting investor confidence in AusperBio's Med-Oligo™ ASO platform.
Advancing AHB-137 for Chronic Hepatitis B
The proceeds from the financing will primarily fund the continued Phase 2 development of AHB-137, supporting clinical studies both in China and globally. Additionally, the funding will facilitate the development of commercial-scale manufacturing processes and the expansion of AusperBio’s therapeutic pipeline.
AHB-137, a novel unconjugated antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), is designed to treat chronic hepatitis B and achieve a functional cure. The drug has completed its global Phase 1b trial and is currently undergoing multiple Phase 2 trials in China. Interim Phase 2a data was presented in a late-breaking oral session at the 2024 AASLD conference.
AusperBio's Med-Oligo™ Platform
AusperBio's proprietary Med-Oligo™ ASO platform is designed to enhance current ASO therapeutics through novel insights into ASO design. Combined with efficient targeted delivery conjugation technologies, the modular Med-Oligo™ Platform empowers ASO therapeutics to treat a broad range of diseases, including viral infections, metabolic conditions, genetic disorders, and immune diseases.
Leadership Insights
Dr. Guofeng Cheng, co-founder and CEO of AusperBio, expressed gratitude for the investor support, stating, "This milestone financing recognizes our scientific and clinical accomplishments to date and enables us to accelerate our clinical programs and move closer to delivering a functional cure for CHB patients in need."
Dr. Chris Yang, co-founder and CSO, added, "AHB-137 continues to attract attention from the scientific and clinical communities, particularly after the late-breaking oral presentation at the recent AASLD conference. The promising clinical data further validates our Med-Oligo™ platform, strengthening our development of groundbreaking targeted oligonucleotide therapies for CHB and other serious chronic diseases."
