Arbutus Biopharma (NASDAQ: ABUS ) Corporation (Nasdaq: ABUS) ("Arbutus"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging its extensive virology expertise to develop novel therapeutics that target specific viral diseases, today announced that the first subject has been dosed in the Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of AB-161, Arbutus' oral RNA destabilizer. AB-161 is being developed for use in an all-oral combination regimen to potentially provide a functional cure for patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV). "We are pleased to move AB-161 into Phase 1 clinical development," said William Collier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Arbutus Biopharma. "AB-161 was designed to reduce HBsAg levels and inhibit viral replication by selectively inhibiting essential host proteins that are important in stabilizing HBV RNAs from degradation.