Bluejay Therapeutics Inc.’s lead compound, the fully human monoclonal antibody brelovitug (BJT-778), produced positive virologic response data in the company’s phase II study of chronic hepatitis D virus, a condition with no approved treatment in the U.S.

SVF Vaccines AB, a portfolio company of Karolinska Development AB, has presented positive results from a preclinical study of its immunotherapy SVF-001 targeting chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and D viruses (HDV).

An expert in hepatitis delta virus said Vir Biotechnology Inc.’s phase II findings with the monoclonal antibody tobevibart and the small interfering ribonucleic acid elebsiran in chronic disease could lead to a “change [in] the entire care cascade and paradigm.” Shares of Vir (NASDAQ:VIR) ended June 5 at $12.66, up $2.08, or 19.7%, on the clinical news.

Concurrent infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) may lead to cirrhosis, fulminant hepatitis or hepatocellular carcinoma faster than infection with HBV alone.

Three years ago when Keting Chu pondered the name for a new biopharma company that would fold in infectious disease assets from Novartis AG, she looked out over her West Coast backyard. “I was looking for a name that made you think of California,” she told BioWorld. She nixed the idea of incorporating redwood trees into the name, but then she saw the blue jays flying around those trees and thought, “that’s a beautiful bird.” Hence, Chu founded and became CEO of Bluejay Therapeutics Inc., first raising $20 million through a series A in June 2021 and a $41 million series B in August 2022. On May 9, the San Mateo, Calif.-based company closed a $182 million series C round, with plans to accelerate development of lead compound BJT-778 to treat chronic hepatitis D virus, a condition for which there are no approved therapeutics in the U.S.