Assembly Biosciences to Present Data on ABI-H0731 at AASLD 2016 Liver Meeting

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 11, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASMB), a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing a new class of oral therapeutics for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and novel oral biotherapeutics for disorders associated with the microbiome, today announced it will present new data at The Liver Meeting^® 2016, the Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), being held on November 11-15, 2016 in Boston.

“This latest presentation shows that our proprietary core protein allosteric modulators (CpAMs) have unique antiviral properties, including the critical ability to stop the formation of new cccDNA,” said Richard Colonno PhD, chief scientific officer of Assembly. “This data presentation is especially timely, as earlier this week we initiated the first Phase 1 trial of Assembly’s lead CpAM candidate, ABI-H0731. We look forward to assessing the potential for CpAMs to help change the treatment paradigm and increase cure rates for HBV patients.”

Poster #1897:
Blockage of HBV Virus Replication and Inhibition of cccDNA Establishment by Core Protein Allosteric Modifiers (CpAMs)

• November 14, 2016 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
• Presented by: Richard Colonno, PhD, and Qi Huang, PhD, Director of Biology
• Summary: Assembly has developed a proprietary series of CpAM compounds that can both suppress viral replication and inhibit the formation of cccDNA in HBV cell infection assays. In comparison, nucleos(t)ide therapy, such as the the current HBV standard of care drug entecavir, can efficiently block viral replication but has only a modest impact on cccDNA levels.

Poster #1897 can be viewed at the events section at the company’s website or at www.liverlearning.org.

About Assembly Biosciences
Assembly Biosciences, Inc. is a public biotechnology company developing two innovative platform programs: an HBV program advancing a new class of oral therapeutics for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and a microbiome program developing novel oral biotherapeutics designed to address diseases associated with the microbiome. Assembly‘s HBV program is advancing multiple drug candidates with the aim of increasing cure rates in patients with chronic HBV. The company’s microbiome program consists of a fully integrated platform that includes a robust strain identification and selection process, methods for strain isolation and growth under current Good Manufacturing Practices and a patent-pending delivery system, GEMICEL^®, which allows for targeted oral delivery of live biologic and conventional therapies to the lower gastrointestinal tract. The lead program from this platform is in development for the treatment of C. difficile infections. Assembly is also developing additional microbiome product candidates. For more information, visit assemblybio.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
The information in this press release contains estimates and other forward-looking statements regarding future events, including statements about the clinical and therapeutic potential of our HBV-cure program, timing of the initiation of and availability of data from our ongoing and planned clinical trials, and plans, strategies, and intentions related to our programs. Certain forward looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by use of forward-looking terminology such as “developing,” “potential,” “projected,” “anticipated,” “positioned,” “strategy,” “should” or “may.” Such forward-looking statements, which we intend to be covered by the safe harbor provisions contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are just predictions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: preclinical models may not be representative of disease behavior in clinical studies; our ability to retain necessary employees and to staff our operations appropriately; the components, timing, cost and results of clinical trials and other development activities involving our product candidates; the unpredictability of the preclinical and clinical development of our product candidates and of the duration and results of regulatory review of those candidates by the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities; our anticipated capital expenditures, our estimates regarding our capital requirements, and our need for future capital; and the possible impairment of, or inability to obtain, intellectual property rights and the costs of obtaining such rights from third parties. These and other potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted are more fully detailed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is not possible for Assembly management to predict all risks nor can Assembly assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements Assembly may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.                             

Contacts
Investors:
Assembly Biosciences, Inc.
Lauren Glaser
[email protected]

Media:
Barbara Lindheim
[email protected]
212 584-2276