Scientists Silenced Hepatitis B Via Epigenetic Editing
A new therapy successfully targeted the hepatitis B genome to stop the production of viral particles in experiments.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Biotech
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Researchers have developed a therapy that uses chemical tags to silence the hepatitis B virus, preventing it from producing viral particles. The treatment has demonstrated efficacy in human liver cells and animal models.
Why it matters
The approach targets the virus's ability to remain in the body as mini-chromosomes and evade the immune system. This could provide a novel way to treat a virus that affects over 250 million people worldwide.
The CRMA-1001 therapy utilizes a modified Cas9 enzyme that lacks DNA-cutting activity to deliver methyl tags to viral DNA. These tags are delivered via lipid nanoparticles to reach both free-ranging and integrated HBV DNA.
The players
nChroma Bio
A biotechnology firm headquartered in Boston that is developing the CRMA-1001 therapy for hepatitis B.
The details
The treatment prevents the virus from producing viral particles by targeting the hepatitis B genome without physically cutting the DNA. While initial testing in monkeys resulted in minimal and temporary side effects, clinical trials are currently underway to test multiple dosage levels.
Timeline
January 2026: The first clinical trial participant received the therapy.
September 21, 2026: The study was published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
The Tech Race
This development represents a major shift toward epigenetic editing, which avoids the permanent genomic alterations associated with earlier gene-editing tools. It positions this therapeutic approach as a more precise alternative to traditional methods of viral suppression.
Patients currently managing the virus face a minimum 10-year treatment duration, with only 10% able to safely stop medication. If successful, this therapy could offer an alternative to long-term chronic medication regimens.
The takeaway
The use of epigenetic editing to silence viral DNA represents a significant evolution in how doctors approach chronic viral infections. This method could eventually reduce the reliance on long-term daily medications for millions of patients.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Biotech.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nature.
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