Genome and epigenome editing to target the HBV reservoir

The 6th ICE-HBV “HBV cure workshop” at the International HBV Meeting

 Genome and epigenome editing to target the HBV reservoir

Chairs: Teresa Pollicino (Messina, Italy) and Fabien Zoulim (Lyon, France)

Sept. 12, 2025 – 8.30 to 11.30 a.m. CET – Berlin, Germany

 

The symposium will cover the genome and epigenome technologies to target the HBV reservoir including cccDNA and integrated sequences. A session on the viral reservoir and biomarkers assessment will introduce the symposium. The symposium will have 6 short talks. Finally, a presentation on the knowledge gaps and clinical perspectives will introduce the round table discussion of 30 min at the end.

 

Welcome & Opening Remarks – Fabien Zoulim and Teresa Pollicino (5 min)

 

1) The viral reservoir in the liver (15 min: 12 min + 3 min discussion) – Maura Dandri (Hamburg, Germany)

 

2) Genome editing technologies (60 min: 10 min + 5 min questions for each talk)

  • Excision CRISPR/Cas9 approach: EBT-107 for HBV.  Ryo Takeuchi (Excision, U.S.)
  • Precision Arcus technology: PBGENE-HBV.  Emily Harrison (Precision, U.S.)
  • Beam base editors: A and C Base editors for HBV and HDV.  Michael Packer (Beam, U.S.) / & Anuj Kumar (Lyon, France)
  • HBV RNA targeting with Cas13.  Laura McCoullough (Melbourne, Australia)

 

Coffee break (15 min)

 

3) Epigenome editing technologies (45 min: 10 min + 5 min questions for each talk)

  • nChroma technology for HBV DNA Methylation: CRMA-1001 for HBV.  Sarah Voytek (nChroma Bio, U.S.)
  • Tune technology for HBV DNA Methylation: Tune-401 for HBV.  Brian Cosgrove (Tune Tx, U.S.)
  • EPIREG: Next-gen Epigenetic Modulator for HBV Eradication through direct silencing of ccDNA transcription.  Yidi Sun (Epigenic, China)

 

4) Knowledge gaps to advance clinical development of gene and epigenome editing (10 min) –  Fabien Zoulim (Lyon, France) (introduction to the roundtable)

 

5) Round table discussion (30 min): Co-chairs, Speakers and with the contribution of Markus Cornberg (MHH, CiiM Hannover, Germany) and Kosh Agarval (Kings College hospital, London, U.K.)

 

Closing Remarks (5 min) – Fabien Zoulim and Teresa Pollicino