imdusiran + nivolumab

Imdusiran + nivolumab is an investigational combination regimen being evaluated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (cHBV) infection. Imdusiran (AB-729) is a GalNAc-conjugated small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutic developed by Arbutus Biopharma that is designed to target HBV RNA, thereby reducing all hepatitis B viral proteins and antigens, including hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Nivolumab (Opdivo) is an approved anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody developed by Bristol Myers Squibb that acts as an immune checkpoint inhibitor. In the combination regimen, imdusiran is used to initially lower HBsAg levels, which is hypothesized to help reawaken the patient's immune system, followed by low-dose nivolumab (often in combination with an immunotherapeutic vaccine like VTP-300) to further boost immune-mediated viral clearance and potentially achieve a functional cure.