THERVACB: A THERAPEUTIC VACCINE TO CURE HEPATITIS B

2026-07-22

Experts in virology, immunology and clinical hepatitis B patient care with an excellent research and translational track record in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-host interaction form the interdisciplinary TherVacB consortium. They jointly tackle the major challenges in HBV therapy – the virus’s resistance to cure. TherVacB aims at breaking immune tolerance in chronic HBV infection and achieving HBV cure. Occurrence of neutralizing antibodies and HBV-specific T cell responses characterize spontaneous resolution of HBV infection that are lacking in chronic infection. We will use our IP-protected heterologous prime-boost therapeutic vaccination scheme with proven efficacy in preclinical models of hepatitis B to target and activate B and T cell responses. Two protein prime injections with clinically approved, adjuvanted particulate HBV S and core protein antigens shall induce neutralizing antibodies and prime T cells that are boosted with an MVA vector expressing HBV core, S, L and polymerase antigens covering >95% of HBV found worldwide. Having secured significant funding and partnerships to obtain GMP-produced vaccine components and to prepare a first-in-human application, TherVacB aims at a clinical proof-of-concept of the therapeutic hepatitis B vaccine in patients with chronic hepatitis B. The consortium will establish a patient registry and perform a multi-center phase Ib/IIa clinical trial that aims at proving safety of the therapeutic vaccine and inducing immune control of chronic HBV infection. One study arm will be realized in Tanzania to build up local capacity, because Africa carries a large burden of HBV infection but lacks diagnostic and therapeutic options. An innovative immune monitoring will quantify HBV-specific immunity and define novel biomarkers to predict treatment response. Finally an ethical and an empirical study will evaluate the recruitment of patients by social media which is very effective for infectious diseases that tend to stigmatize patients

Germany

2025-11-01