Story perspectives

GSK/Ionis Hepatitis B Drug Cures 20% in Trials

5/28/2026

Summary

GSK/Ionis Cure HBV

GlaxoSmithKline and Ionis’s drug bepirovirsen cured about one in five chronic hepatitis B patients.
Two Phase 3 trials in 29 countries enrolled 1,838 patients who received bepirovirsen or placebo, with 20% of bepirovirsen patients having undetectable virus six months later, none on placebo.
The FDA is reviewing bepirovirsen under fast-track with a decision due Oct. 26, while Japan, China and Europe also consider approval, reporting injection-site pain and liver-enzyme rises as side effects.

Summary

GSK Targets £2B

The FDA granted fast-track and breakthrough-therapy designations to bepirovirsen, potentially accelerating its market entry.
GSK projects that bepirovirsen could reach peak annual sales of roughly £2 billion.
GSK’s 2031 revenue target exceeds £40 billion ($54 billion).
Ionis licensed bepirovirsen to GSK in August 2019 for $25 million upfront and up to $262 million in milestones, and analysts at William Blair and Jefferies call it an under-appreciated blockbuster with sizable market potential.

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GSK/Ionis Cure HBV

GlaxoSmithKline and Ionis’s drug bepirovirsen cured about one in five chronic hepatitis B patients.
Two Phase 3 trials in 29 countries enrolled 1,838 patients who received bepirovirsen or placebo, with 20% of bepirovirsen patients having undetectable virus six months later, none on placebo.
The FDA is reviewing bepirovirsen under fast-track with a decision due Oct. 26, while Japan, China and Europe also consider approval, reporting injection-site pain and liver-enzyme rises as side effects.

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