Immunocore Holdings plc announced data from a Phase 1 clinical trial of its hepatitis B candidate, IMC-I109V, at the AASLD's The Liver Meeting. IMC-I109V is a bispecific T cell receptor targeting a peptide derived from the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) presented by HLA-A*02:01 on infected hepatocytes. The trial enrolled 20 participants across four ascending dose cohorts (0.8 mcg, 2.4 mcg, 7 mcg, 20 mcg), each receiving a single intravenous infusion. Results showed that IMC-I109V has a manageable safety profile and demonstrated antiviral activity, including reductions in HBsAg levels. One case of Grade 2 cytokine release syndrome was reported at the highest dose, which resolved with treatment. No serious adverse events occurred in subsequent participants who received corticosteroid premedication. The company indicated that these first-in-human findings support further evaluation of IMC-I109V in multiple dose regimens.