H.C. Wainwright says Vir’s SOLSTICE 96-week data reinforces best-in-class

H.C. Wainwright notes that Vir Biotechnology (VIR) released incremental Phase 2 SOLSTICE data, representing another major derisking event for the chronic hepatitis delta franchise. The combination of tobevibart and elebsiran achieved an 88% HDV RNA target not detected rate in the subset of participants evaluated through Week 96. This result marks a significant “deepening of response” from the 77% TND rate observed at Week 72 and the 66% rate at Week 48, suggesting that extended treatment with the dual-targeting regimen continues to clear the virus in a higher percentage of the population over time, Wainwright adds. When benchmarked against the current standard, Gilead’s (GILD) bulevirtide, Vir’s once-monthly subcutaneous regimen appears to offer a differentiated profile characterized by both greater depth of response and significantly improved patient convenience. As such, the firm reiterates a Buy rating on Vir.