AusperBio Secures $120M Series C Funding to Advance Phase 3 for Chronic Hepatitis B ASO Therapy AHB-137 and Accelerate Au-HALO™ Platform’s HBV siRNA Development

August 30, 2026

BioSpace Global

Overview

AusperBio Therapeutics has successfully completed a $120 million Series C financing round to vigorously advance its lead antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy, AHB-137, through Phase 3 enrollment and towards commercialization readiness for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The funding will also accelerate the development of AHB-171, an HBV siRNA candidate utilizing the company’s proprietary Au-HALO™ targeted delivery platform, and propel next-generation CHB combination approaches. This financing demonstrates strong investor confidence in AusperBio’s potential to revolutionize CHB treatment, offering significant hope for patients with high unmet medical needs.

In Depth

Key Findings

AusperBio Therapeutics announced that it has raised $120 million in a Series C financing round to accelerate the development of treatments for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This substantial funding will be directed towards advancing the Phase 3 clinical trial enrollment program for AHB-137, the company’s lead antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy, and preparing for its potential commercialization. Furthermore, the capital will accelerate the development of AHB-171, a next-generation HBV siRNA candidate based on the company’s proprietary Au-HALO™ targeted delivery platform.

Technical / Clinical Details

AHB-137 is an ASO designed to target specific mRNA essential for hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, aiming to suppress viral proliferation for CHB treatment. Its progression to Phase 3 clinical trials is supported by promising efficacy and an acceptable safety profile demonstrated in earlier clinical studies. Meanwhile, the Au-HALO™ platform is an innovative drug delivery system (DDS) that utilizes gold nanoparticles for targeted delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids, such as siRNA, specifically to the liver. AHB-171 leverages this platform to efficiently deliver HBV siRNA to hepatocytes, aiming for a more potent viral suppression effect.

Background & Context

Chronic hepatitis B is a severe global health issue affecting approximately 250 million people, leading to serious complications like cirrhosis and liver cancer. While existing treatments are effective at suppressing the virus, complete eradication remains challenging, highlighting a persistent high unmet medical need. Companies like AusperBio developing nucleic acid drugs such as ASOs and siRNAs, combined with efficient DDS, hold the potential to achieve breakthroughs in CHB treatment.

Strategic Significance & Outlook

This $120 million financing is critical for AusperBio to establish its position as an innovative leader in CHB treatment. The successful completion of AHB-137’s Phase 3 trial and its commercialization could significantly impact the lives of millions of CHB patients. Furthermore, accelerating the development of AHB-171 through the Au-HALO™ platform lays the foundation for next-generation combination therapy approaches against CHB. This could potentially pave the way for achieving a functional cure for hepatitis B in the future, demonstrating how the convergence of nucleic acid medicines and DDS technologies is shaping the future of drug discovery.

Source: https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/ausperbio-completes-120-million-series-c-financing-to-advance-ahb-137-toward-potential-commercialization-and-expand-next-generation-hbv-therapies

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