Researchers led by John Marlowe at nChroma Bio have developed CRMA-1001, an experimental therapy that switches off hepatitis B genes without cutting or altering DNA, using a lipid-wrapped genetic package that attaches “mute button” methyl tags directly to viral DNA. In human liver cell cultures, it reduced viral proteins by 98%, and in mice, three monthly doses left up to 90% with undetectable hepatitis B surface antigen and unmeasurable viral DNA six months later. Tests in monkeys showed the therapy reached the liver as intended with only mild, temporary side effects, and it caused no detectable unintended genetic changes in human liver cells. While researchers caution that animal models can’t fully replicate human hepatitis B infection, they believe the results support moving CRMA-1001 into human clinical trials, offering hope for a potential cure beyond the lifelong antiviral treatment most patients currently rely on.
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