JNJ-3989

JNJ-3989 (formerly ARO-HBV) is an investigational, liver-targeted RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic designed to treat chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Developed by Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals using its proprietary Targeted RNAi Molecule (TRiM) platform and previously licensed to Janssen, JNJ-3989 consists of two small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that trigger the degradation of all HBV RNA transcripts. This mechanism effectively silences all viral gene products, including hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), across all HBV genotypes. By significantly reducing the viral antigen load, JNJ-3989 is intended to alleviate immune suppression and facilitate the restoration of the host's immune response, potentially leading to a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B. It is administered via subcutaneous injection and has been evaluated in Phase 2 clinical trials both as a monotherapy and in combination with other agents.