SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., August 12, 2026
Aligos Therapeutics, Inc. announced that its partner Xiamen Amoytop Biotech Co., Ltd. has dosed the first participant in a Phase 1 clinical study of ALG-170675, an investigational next-generation antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) being developed for the potential functional cure of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The China-based study represents an important clinical development milestone for the candidate, which has been designed to combine HBsAg RNA inhibition with immuno-activation. The Phase 1 program will initially evaluate ALG-170675 in healthy participants before advancing into a cohort of participants with chronic HBV infection expected to begin in Q4 2026. Aligos said the program reflects its strategy of developing potentially best-in-class therapies for liver and viral diseases where substantial unmet medical needs remain.
ALG-170675 Designed for RNA Inhibition and Immune Activation
ALG-170675 is a next-generation ASO discovered by Aligos through its research collaboration with Amoytop, which retains rights to the program in Greater China. The candidate is designed to inhibit HBsAg RNA while also supporting immune activation, potentially addressing two important components of chronic HBV infection. According to Aligos, preclinical studies showed improved RNase H-mediated in vivo activity compared with GSK-836 (bepirovirsen), while similar hTLR8 agonist activity was observed in vitro and in vivo. The candidate also uses novel monomers that the company believes could potentially reduce ASO-related toxicity and improve liver-to-kidney distribution. These findings remain preclinical and will need to be validated through human clinical studies. If ALG-170675 demonstrates favorable safety and meaningful antiviral and immune effects, it could potentially contribute to combination strategies aimed at achieving a functional cure for chronic HBV.
Phase 1 Program Includes SAD and MAD Dose Escalation
The Phase 1 study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ALG-170675 through both single ascending dose (SAD) and multiple ascending dose (MAD) assessments. The SAD portion is planned to enroll approximately 32 healthy participants across four dose cohorts receiving 75 mg, 150 mg, 300 mg or 450 mg. Following completion of the 300 mg SAD cohort, the company expects to begin the MAD portion, which is planned to enroll approximately 24 healthy participants. A further cohort of approximately 16 participants with chronic HBV infection is expected to begin after completion of the 150 mg MAD cohort in Q4 2026. This sequential design is intended to generate initial human safety and pharmacological information before evaluating the investigational therapy directly in the target patient population. The study will therefore provide the first clinical assessment of ALG-170675 and help determine whether its preclinical characteristics translate into a suitable therapeutic profile.
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Aligos and Amoytop Advance Broader HBV Strategy
The clinical advancement of ALG-170675 strengthens the collaboration between Aligos and Amoytop as both companies pursue new approaches to chronic HBV infection. Aligos also sees potential for future combination regimens involving ALG-170675, PEGBING®, Amoytop’s pegylated interferon alfa product, and pevifoscorvir sodium, a capsid assembly modulator licensed to Amoytop in Greater China. Chronic HBV remains a major global health challenge because persistent infection can lead to serious complications including cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. Current treatments can suppress the virus but do not reliably achieve functional cure in most patients, creating significant demand for new therapeutic strategies. ALG-170675 is still an early-stage investigational drug, so its safety and efficacy remain unproven in humans. The upcoming chronic HBV cohort in Q4 2026 will be an important next milestone in determining whether the candidate can advance toward later-stage development
Source:Aligos Therapeutics, press release
