AusperBio Therapeutics, Inc. and Ausper Biopharma Co., Ltd., a near-commercial biopharmaceutical company based in San Francisco, today announced the closing of a $120 million Series C financing round. The company is focused on developing targeted oligonucleotide therapeutics for chronic hepatitis B and other diseases. This latest financing brings its total capital raised since 2024 to $360 million and will support late-stage development, commercialization readiness, and pipeline expansion.
Financing Details and Investor Support
The Series C round was led by a leading strategic investor and included participation from new investor RA Capital Management, L.P. Existing investors HanKang Capital, Sherpa Capital, InnoPinnacle Fund, Qiming Venture Partners, YuanBio Venture Capital, and CDH Investments continued their support for the company. The broad syndicate reflects strong and sustained investor confidence in AusperBio's lead programs and its differentiated oligonucleotide platforms.
Advancing AHB-137 Toward Commercialization
The primary portion of the proceeds will be directed toward AHB-137, AusperBio's lead investigational unconjugated antisense oligonucleotide therapy for chronic hepatitis B. The company will support the candidate's Phase 3 registrational program and build commercialization readiness across key markets. AHB-137 has already completed a global Phase 1 study and multiple Phase 2 studies, and it is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 trial in China.
Mechanism and Clinical Potential of AHB-137
AHB-137 is developed using AusperBio's proprietary Med-Oligo ASO platform and has demonstrated promising clinical activity in patients. It is designed to suppress hepatitis B surface antigen production, inhibit viral DNA replication, and promote immune reactivation in patients with chronic hepatitis B. The company views the candidate as a potential backbone therapy for achieving a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B and as a foundation for future combination approaches.
Accelerating AHB-171 and Next-Generation Combinations
Proceeds from the Series C will also accelerate development of AHB-171, the company's investigational HBV siRNA candidate. It is the first clinical candidate built on the proprietary Au-HALO liver-targeting delivery platform and is designed to selectively suppress viral gene expression and deliver potent and sustained antiviral activity. The funding will further advance next-generation combination approaches, expand the pipeline of targeted oligonucleotide therapeutics, and support clinical validation of the Au-HALO platform.
Chronic Hepatitis B Disease Burden
Chronic hepatitis B remains a significant global health challenge, affecting an estimated 254 million people worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, the disease causes approximately 1.1 million deaths annually, primarily from cirrhosis and liver cancer. Current therapies can suppress viral replication but rarely achieve a functional cure, leaving many patients dependent on long-term treatment and creating a need for new approaches.
Company Platforms and Strategic Vision
AusperBio's innovation engine is built on its proprietary Med-Oligo ASO and Au-HALO targeted delivery platforms. These technologies support the development of therapies across multiple oligonucleotide modalities. The company is advancing a backbone-based combination strategy for functional cure of chronic hepatitis B while exploring additional disease areas with significant unmet medical needs.
With the Series C financing, AusperBio is positioned to advance a late-stage pipeline that could transform treatment for chronic hepatitis B. The company has secured substantial investor backing to move AHB-137 toward potential commercialization while building complementary siRNA and delivery capabilities. These efforts support a backbone-based combination strategy aimed at delivering a functional cure, addressing significant unmet medical needs, and potentially broadening the company's therapeutic reach.