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GAITHERSBURG, Md., Sept. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- YS Biopharma Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: YS) ("YS Biopharma" or the "Company"), a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, manufacturing, and delivering new generations of vaccines and therapeutic biologics for infectious diseases and cancer, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued it a patent covering the Company's PIKA YS-HBV-002, an immunotherapeutic vaccine designed to treat patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B virus ("HBV") infection. YS Biopharma expects to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application and commence the clinical development of PIKA YS-HBV-002 as a novel immunotherapy for the treatment of chronic HBV infection in 2024.
According to the American Liver Foundation, it is estimated that between 850,000 and 2.2 million people suffer from chronic HBV infection in the United States. Worldwide, nearly two billion people are hepatitis B carriers, and about 400 million suffer from chronic HBV infection according to the European Association for the Study of the Liver. Those infected are at higher risk for cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer, with between 15%-40% of chronic HBV patients afflicted with one or more of these conditions. Chronic HBV infections occur in both developing and developed countries, constituting a significant unaddressed public health threat. At present, the efficacy of existing treatment paradigms is limited, and no cure for chronic HBV has yet been developed.
Unlike conventional prophylactic HBV vaccines that are administered to healthy individuals, PIKA YS-HBV-002 is targeted at patients who are already suffering from chronic HBV infection and seeking effective treatment against the disease. PIKA YS-HBV-002 was developed based on YS Biopharma's proprietary PIKA immunomodulating technology, coupled with multiple HBV antigens. PIKA YS-HBV-002 has the potential to activate and re-establish a desirable immune response in patients in order to eradicate HBV infection. In clinical settings, PIKA technology has demonstrated promising potential for activating both innate and adaptive immune responses in humans. In recent years, immune-based intervention has emerged as an important strategy in developing new therapeutics for chronic HBV treatment, coming along with a better understanding of the underlying disease and the advancement of immunological technologies.
Mr. Yi Zhang, the Project Leader of the PIKA YS-HBV-002 program and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of YS Biopharma, commented, "We are pleased to build on our robust intellectual property franchise by adding another important patent to our portfolio. This latest patent underscores our dedication to innovation and our commitment to enhancing treatment options for patients around the world. Our PIKA YS-HBV-002 vaccine has the potential to advance the fight against chronic HBV infection, a hugely significant unaddressed medical need in the United States and across the globe. This clinical candidate is based on the advancement of multiple components from preclinical and clinical studies, and we are now focused on progressing it to clinical trials."
About YS Biopharma
YS Biopharma is a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, manufacturing, and delivering new generations of vaccines and therapeutic biologics for infectious diseases and cancer. It has developed a proprietary PIKA® immunomodulating technology platform and a new generation of preventive and therapeutic biologics targeting Rabies, Coronavirus, Hepatitis B, Influenza, Shingles, and other virus infections. YS Biopharma operates in China, the United States, Singapore, and the Philippines, and is led by a management team that combines rich local expertise and global experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. For more information, please visit investor.ysbiopharm.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical or current fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding the expected growth of YS Biopharma, the development progress of all product candidates, the progress and results of all clinical trials, YS Biopharma's ability to source and retain talent, and the cash position of YS Biopharma following the closing of the Business Combination. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "target" or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of YS Biopharma's management and are not predictions of actual performance.
These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although YS Biopharma believes that it has a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, YS Biopharma cautions you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known and projections of the future, which are inherently uncertain. In addition, there are risks and uncertainties described in the final prospectus relating to the proposed Business Combination, and other documents filed by YS Biopharma from time to time with the SEC. These filings may identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements.
YS Biopharma cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, costs related to the transaction, the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the risk that the transaction disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the consummation of the transaction, the outcome of any potential litigation, government or regulatory proceedings, the sales performance of the marketed vaccine product and the clinical trial development results of the product candidates of YS Biopharma, and other risks and uncertainties, including those included in YS Biopharma's filings with the SEC. There may be additional risks that YS Biopharma does not presently know or that YS Biopharma currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent the views of YS Biopharma as of the date of this press release. Subsequent events and developments may cause those views to change. However, while YS Biopharma may update these forward-looking statements in the future, there is no current intention to do so, except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of YS Biopharma as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Except as may be required by law, YS Biopharma does not undertake any duty to update these forward-looking statements.
Investor Relations Contacts
Alyssa Li
Director of Investor Relations
Email: ir@yishengbio.com
Robin Yang
Partner, ICR, LLC
Tel: +1 (212) 537-4035
Email: YSBiopharma.IR@icrinc.com