About HBV and HDV

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Chronic hepatitis is a major challenge in the world and elimination of the disease is ranked a priority in the WHO Agenda 2030 goals. Hepatitis B (HBV) > 250 million chronic carriers and hepatitis D (HDV) ranging 25-50 million carriers. There are today no curative treatments, and the risk of developing liver cirrhosis and cancer are still increased in these patients and with high healthcare costs. To achieve that WHO goal, It is very beneficial to have both a prophylactic vaccine and a curative treatment

HBV and HDV are main reasons for all liver cancer and liver cirrhosis in the world and counting for approximately 800 000 death yearly.

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The care of HBV and HDV today

HBV has a prophylactic vaccine, despite that the disease is still spreading, but there are no curative treatments. What exists is life-long treatments that can clear the blood but not infected cells from the virus. A curative treatment is a high unmet medical need.

HDV has not a prophylactic vaccine and the treatment options are limited. HDV makes the progression towards liver cancer and cirrhosis much more rapid than mono-infection with HBV.

The unmet medical need is urgent.

Treatment of HBV and HDV is very well established among Infectious disease specialists and gastroenterologist. Both life-long treatments and curing treatment such as within HCV. The need for a potential curative treatment of HBV and HDV is high knowing that hepatitis is the most common reason to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. The targeted patient population is already under care and it’s a high unmet medical need.

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The competition

Within HBV there is antiviral NUC-treatments as life-long treatments but they only clears the blood from virus and not the cells and therefore not protect against HDV co-infection and it’s not fully protect against liver cancer and cirrhosis. No curative treatment exists.

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Market estimations

The market for hepatitis B therapeutics is estimated to reach 3.5 billion USD in 2021. Additionally, attractive market opportunities, e.g. Gilead acquisition of Myr for $1.7B in December 2020.

According to experts, the future market for Covid-19 vaccines could be worth more than $10bn in annual revenues.