Precision BioSciences Inc. (NASDAQ: DTIL) received two Notices of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for patent applications related to its PBGENE-HBV hepatitis B treatment program, according to a company statement.

The first allowance covers U.S. Patent Application No. 19/347,136, titled "Engineered meganucleases having specificity for a recognition sequence in the Hepatitis B virus genome." This application includes composition of matter claims for the ARCUS nuclease used in PBGENE-HBV.

The second allowance relates to U.S. Patent Application No. 19/273,982, covering "Polypeptide linkers for use in engineered meganucleases." This application encompasses any polypeptide that includes a novel, shortened polypeptide linker developed by the company, including the PBGENE-HBV ARCUS nuclease.

Both patents are expected to expire in November 2044 when issued.

PBGENE-HBV is an in vivo gene editing program currently under investigation in a clinical trial designed as a treatment for chronic hepatitis B infection. The program targets the elimination of cccDNA, which serves as a template for viral replication in patients with chronic hepatitis B. The Food and Drug Administration has granted Fast Track designation to PBGENE-HBV.

The Durham, North Carolina-based company utilizes its ARCUS platform to develop gene editing therapies. Jeff Smith, co-founder and chief research officer, said the patents provide composition-of-matter protection for the PBGENE-HBV ARCUS nuclease through 2044.