AusperBio

AusperBio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, established in July 2019 by co-founders Dr. Guofeng Cheng (CEO) and Dr. Chris Yang (CSO). With operational bases in both the United States and China, the firm is concentrated on developing oligonucleotide therapies aimed at providing a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The founders bring significant experience to the company; Dr. Cheng is a recognized leader in antiviral research, having played a key role in the development of revolutionary HCV cure drugs, while Dr. Yang is a leading expert in DMPK (Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics) and co-led the development and regulatory approval of similar treatments.

The company's business model is centered on the research and development of novel therapeutics, leveraging its proprietary Med-Oligo™ technology platform. This platform engineers antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) molecules with strategic chemical modifications to improve potency and safety. AusperBio's primary focus is the global patient population suffering from chronic hepatitis B, a market with a significant unmet medical need for curative treatments. The company generates value by advancing its drug candidates through the costly and lengthy clinical trial process, with the ultimate goal of commercialization and making its therapies available to patients worldwide. This strategy is supported by substantial venture capital funding, with the company having raised approximately $160 million through Series A, B, and B+ rounds from a consortium of investors including Qiming Venture Partners, CDH Investments, and Hankang Capital.

AusperBio's lead product candidate is AHB-137, an ASO therapeutic designed to achieve a functional cure for CHB. This investigational medicine, developed using the Med-Oligo™ platform, targets all hepatitis B virus mRNA with a dual-action mechanism. Its design aims to reduce the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and stop viral replication. AHB-137 has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from China's Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE), which is intended to expedite its development. The therapy has progressed through global Phase I trials and is currently in multiple Phase II and III studies in China. Beyond its primary focus on CHB, the modular Med-Oligo™ platform is being positioned to develop treatments for a broader range of conditions, including other viral infections, metabolic disorders, and genetic diseases.

Keywords: AusperBio, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical, oligonucleotide therapeutics, chronic hepatitis B, HBV functional cure, Med-Oligo ASO platform, AHB-137, Guofeng Cheng, Chris Yang, antisense oligonucleotide, targeted drug delivery, antiviral research, venture capital financing, China CDE, biopharma, drug development, gene expression regulation, HBsAg reduction, viral infections, metabolic diseases, genetic disorders