INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 16, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASMB), a biotechnology company developing curative treatments for infectious diseases including hepatitis B virus (HBV) and C. difficile (CDI) infections, announced that the company will participate in the Jefferies Microbiome Summit being held today in Boston, MA. Uri Lopatin, MD, Assembly’s Chief Medical Officer, will present an overview of the company’s microbiome program.
Assembly has two major scientific platforms. One is focused on the development of direct-acting antivirals as curative therapies for HBV infections, and the other is a novel microbiome program initially aiming to cure recurrent C. difficile infections. The microbiome platform includes a proprietary delivery technology, Gemicel™, which enables oral administration of microbiome and other biologic therapies targeted to the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, as well as a set of novel methods for the selection and cGMP-manufacture of subsets of beneficial bacteria strains specifically selected for the treatment of microbiome-mediated conditions. Last week, Assembly reported that human clinical studies have confirmed that Gemicel can successfully deliver bolus doses of therapeutics to the lower GI tract.
Assembly’s first microbiome product, AB-M101, is being developed as a cure for recurrent CDI using an orally-administered Gemicel capsule to deliver selected cGMP-manufactured live bacterial strains to the regions of the lower GI tract where CDI pathogens reside. The company is planning to initiate a Phase lb clinical trial in recurrent CDI in the second half of 2016.
A copy of Dr. Lopatin’s presentation will be posted on the investor relations page of the company's website at www.assemblybio.com.
The Jefferies Microbiome Summit is being held at the Boston Harbor Hotel. Those interested in attending should contact their Jefferies representative.
About Assembly Biosciences
Assembly Biosciences, Inc. is a public biotechnology company developing novel oral therapies for the cure of intractable infectious diseases, focusing on hepatitis B virus (HBV) and C. difficile infections (CDI). Assembly’s HBV-Cure research team is discovering and developing multiple drug candidates focused on upstream and downstream targets in the HBV lifecycle, for possible use in combination therapy. The goal is to eradicate HBV infection with an orally-administered regimen. Assembly has built a senior scientific team that has over 30 years of combined experience working on HBV. The company’s CDI program is focused on the targeted delivery of microbiome-based therapies in a novel oral formulation to treat recurrent CDI patients. Assembly has a proprietary delivery system, GemicelTM, which allows for targeted delivery of selected GMP-manufactured bacteria to the lower gastrointestinal tract, and it has built a team of world-class microbiome scientists from academia and industry to help advance this innovative program. For more information visit assemblybio.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The information provided herein contains estimates and other forward-looking statements regarding future events, including statements about the therapeutic potential of our HBV and CDI programs. Such statements, which we intend to be covered by the safe harbor provisions contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are just predictions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: our ability to retain necessary employees and to staff our operations appropriately; the components, timing, cost and results of clinical trials and other development activities involving our product candidates; the unpredictability of the preclinical and clinical development of our product candidates and of the duration and results of regulatory review of those candidates by the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities; our anticipated capital expenditures, our estimates regarding our capital requirements, and our need for future capital; and the possible impairment of, or inability to obtain, intellectual property rights and the costs of obtaining such rights from third parties. These and other potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted are more fully detailed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is not possible for Assembly management to predict all risks nor can Assembly assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements Assembly may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts
Corporate:
Assembly Biosciences, Inc.
David Barrett
646-706-5208
dbarrett@assemblybio.com
Media:
BLL Partners LLC
Barbara Lindheim
212-584-2276
blindheim@bllbiopartners.com