Brii Bio's Promising Findings on HBsAg Rebound Presented at APASL 2026 Conference

Overview of the Presentation

Brii Biosciences Limited, a pioneering biotechnology firm, recently presented crucial findings regarding post-treatment hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) rebounds at the annual APASL 2026 conference held in Istanbul, Turkey. The presentation focused on the outcomes of participants who achieved HBsAg loss using therapies like pegylated interferon alfa (PEG-IFNα) combined with novel agents such as elebsiran and BRII-179. The findings shed light on the potential for reasonable discontinuation of nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) in treatment regimens for hepatitis B.

Key Findings

Participants in this study presented favorable clinical outcomes after treatment. A significant observation was that most HBsAg rebounds remained well below 10 IU/mL, indicating a durable post-treatment immunological control. Importantly, incidences of HBV DNA rebound were infrequent and showed no correlation with clinically significant elevations in ALT levels. The implications of these results are considerable, suggesting that the existing treatment guidelines may be revisited to allow for shorter or even eliminated NRTI consolidation periods in patients undergoing combination therapies with PEG-IFNα.

Clinical Trial Details

The analysis comprised data pooled from two Phase 2 studies, ENSURE and BRII-179-002, focusing on NRTI-experienced participants with chronic hepatitis B. The ENSURE study tested the efficacy of combining elebsiran with PEG-IFNα, whereas the BRII-179-002 study evaluated BRII-179 as an adjunct therapy. These studies aimed to enhance the understanding of curative approaches to HBV by analyzing HBsAg rebound following treatment cessation.

The results indicated that 43.6% of participants experienced an HBsAg rebound post-end-of-treatment, with similar rates while still receiving NRTIs. Notably, participants receiving shorter NRTI consolidation (12-20 weeks) did not experience higher rebound rates compared to those on the standard 24-week regimen. The controlled nature of the rebound, with almost three-quarters of the cases remaining below 10 IU/mL, serves as a robust indicator of sustained immunological control in the absence of active treatment.

Quotes from the Chief Medical Officer

David Margolis, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Brii Bio, expressed optimism about the data, highlighting that the emerging evidence supports the potential of innovative therapies in achieving not only rapid HBsAg loss but also sustained immunological control following treatment discontinuation. Margolis emphasized the promise of BRII-179 and elebsiran in future strategies aimed at HBV cure, as the company looks forward to continuous progress and additional study results throughout 2026.

Background on Hepatitis B

Chronic hepatitis B infection poses a significant global health threat, affecting over 254 million individuals worldwide and leading to severe liver complications. The need for advanced treatment options is particularly pressing, especially in regions like China, where a substantial number of people live with chronic HBV.

Conclusion

The insights shared by Brii Biosciences at APASL 2026 represent not just a leap forward in understanding HBsAg rebound dynamics but also embody hope for patients grappling with chronic hepatitis B. As the exploration of these novel therapies continues, the landscape of HBV treatment may soon witness transformative changes aimed at improving patient outcomes and quality of life.