Precision BioSciences reports first biopsy evidence of cccDNA elimination in HBV trial

Precision BioSciences reported second quarter 2026 financial results and a business update on August 6, 2026. The company said liver biopsy data showed a tenfold reduction in cccDNA-derived transcripts in one patient after only two administrations of PBGENE-HBV at 0.4 mg/kg, with less than 1% of cccDNA remaining after treatment.¹ A second patient who received three doses at the same level showed that repeat administrations cumulatively increased the anti-cccDNA effect in the liver.¹ The company said together the biopsy data delivered the first ever clinical proof that a gene editor can directly target and eliminate cccDNA in chronic hepatitis B patients.¹

On the serum biomarker side, pgRNA became durably undetectable in 100% of patients who had detectable pgRNA before treatment, with the loss ongoing for up to six months as of the data cutoff.¹ No dose-limiting toxicities have been observed in 16 patients across five cohorts.¹ Precision said it has opened new trial sites and continues enrolling patients while expanding cohorts 4 and 5, and expects to provide additional updates on ELIMINATE-B by the end of 2026.¹

In Duchenne muscular dystrophy, two clinical trial sites are now active, at Arkansas Children's Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, with the FUNCTION-DMD study actively recruiting and initial safety data expected for year-end 2026.¹

On finances, the company reported approximately $112.4 million in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as of June 30, 2026.¹ Precision said it believes it is sufficiently capitalized to achieve PBGENE-HBV and PBGENE-DMD data milestones through 2028.¹