AusperBio, a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), has completed a $73m Series B financing round.
The round was led by HanKang Capital, with support from Sherpa Capital, CDH Investments, an undisclosed strategic investor, and existing backers Qiming Venture Partners, InnoPinnacle Fund, and YuanBio Venture Capital.
This funding follows the completion of a $37m Series A in July 2024, which supported AusperBio’s proprietary Med-Oligo ASO technology platform and strategy.
The newly raised funds will support the Phase 2 development of AHB-137, AusperBio’s lead therapy, advancing clinical studies in China as well as global trials.
AusperBio secured investigational new drug (IND) application clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a clinical trial on AHB-137.
The biotech company also received breakthrough therapy designation (BTD) from the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China for the therapy in July this year.
Additionally, the proceeds will support the development of commercial-scale manufacturing processes and expand the company’s therapeutic pipeline and operational capabilities for sustained growth.
AusperBio co-founder and CEO Guofeng Cheng said: “We are honoured by our investors’ confidence and support.
“This milestone financing recognises our scientific and clinical accomplishments to date and enables us to accelerate our clinical programmes and move closer to delivering a functional cure for CHB patients in need.”
AHB-137, a novel unconjugated antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) developed using AusperBio’s technology platform, is designed to achieve a functional cure for CHB.
It has shown promising preclinical and Phase 1 clinical data, with interim Phase 2a data announced earlier this year.
After completing its global Phase 1b trial, AHB-137 is now undergoing Phase 2 trials in China.
