Russia Advances Gene-Editing Therapy for Hepatitis B Using CRISPR-Cas9

Russia’s Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, in cooperation with pharmaceutical company R-Pharm, has launched a new stage in the development of an innovative therapy targeting hepatitis B using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology.

The university said the project has received a grant named after academician E. P. Velikhov, supporting efforts to move the treatment from laboratory development toward the production of an experimental prototype.

The therapy is based on biocompatible nanoparticles designed to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 components into infected liver cells. The approach aims to target and eliminate the virus’s genetic material while improving the precision of treatment and reducing unintended effects on healthy cells.

Maxim Vlasyuk, head of drug development at R-Pharm, said the technology could potentially pave the way for a complete cure for hepatitis B with a single dose in the future. He added that the treatment has been designed to improve targeting accuracy and minimize off-target effects.

CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene-editing technology that uses the Cas9 protein to identify specific genetic sequences and make precise modifications to them