Zhimeng Biopharma presented the discovery and efficacy data of its novel hepatitis B virus (HBV) nucleocapsid formation inhibitor CB-001 at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) in San Francisco, USA, November 9-13, 2018

  • On November 9, 2018, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases in San Francisco, Shanghai Zhimeng Biopharma Company showcased an HBV nucleocapsid formation inhibitor CB-001 which has a novel chemical entity distinct from that of reported class I (heteroaryldihydropyrimidines, e.g., GLS4) and class II (phenylpropenamides or sulfamoylbenzamides, e.g., AT-130 and NVR3-778) HBV core protein allosteric modulators (CpAMs).


  • As Zhimeng Biopharma’s data shows, compared to HAPs and sulfonamides, CB-001 possesses favorable anti-HBV activity (EC50=12nM, tested in primary human liver cells) and excellent pharmacokinetics and safety profiles (mice NOAEL: 800mg/kg/day, mice MTD >2000mg/kg). Furthermore, CB-001 also demonstrates favorable antiviral activity against viruses that show resistance to nucleoside drugs in the clinic. When used in combination with nucleosides and interferon, CB-001 demonstrates favorable additive effect in inhibiting both HBV DNA and HBsAg, suggesting that CB-001 has potential in overcoming resistance to nucleosides and achieving better therapeutic effect when used in combination with existing HBV treatments.


  • Zhimeng Biopharma is currently conducting pre-IND research on CB-001. It plans to submit an IND in the second half of 2019 and launch clinical studies in early 2020.