A Russian project aimed at developing a gene-based treatment for hepatitis B has entered a new phase through a collaboration between Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University and pharmaceutical company R-Pharm.
Supported by a grant named after academician E. P. Velikhov, the project seeks to advance the treatment from laboratory research toward the development of an experimental prototype using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology.
The proposed therapy relies on biocompatible nanoparticles to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 components into infected liver cells. The approach is designed to target the genetic material of the hepatitis B virus and eliminate it while limiting potential effects on healthy cells.
Maxim Vlasyuk, head of drug development at R-Pharm, said the technology could eventually make it possible to achieve a complete cure for hepatitis B with a single dose. He noted that researchers are focusing on improving targeting precision and reducing off-target effects.
CRISPR-Cas9 works by directing the Cas9 protein toward specific genetic sequences, allowing precise modifications to genetic material. The technology has become a major focus of research into potential gene-based treatments.
