In a significant advancement for liver disease treatment, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to brelovitug (BJT-778), an investigational therapy developed by Bluejay Therapeutics for chronic hepatitis delta (CHD). This designation was issued on January 21, 2025, following exceptional results in a Phase 2 clinical trial.
Chronic hepatitis delta is the most severe form of viral hepatitis and occurs as a co-infection with hepatitis B virus. It leads to faster progression of liver disease and higher rates of liver failure and cancer. Despite its severity, no therapies are currently approved in the United States specifically for CHD, making treatment options extremely limited for patients.
Brelovitug’s Phase 2 trial yielded extraordinary results, achieving a 100% virologic response and normalization of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in up to 78% of patients. These outcomes are particularly noteworthy given the historically poor response rates seen in CHD patients and highlight brelovitug’s potential as a transformative therapy.
The FDA’s Breakthrough Therapy Designation is reserved for drugs that show substantial improvement over existing therapies based on preliminary clinical evidence. This status not only recognizes the promise of brelovitug but also facilitates a faster development and review process, offering the potential for earlier patient access to the drug. The expedited pathway includes more frequent communication with the FDA, eligibility for priority review, and rolling submission of marketing applications.
Bluejay Therapeutics expressed optimism about the designation, emphasizing the critical unmet need among CHD patients. The company plans to move forward swiftly with further clinical development, aiming to bring brelovitug to market as quickly as possible. Industry experts also noted that this development could catalyze renewed investment and innovation in hepatitis delta research, an area that has historically received limited attention.
With the lack of effective treatment options for chronic hepatitis delta, brelovitug could represent a major milestone in liver disease management. If subsequent studies confirm its efficacy and safety, it may become the first FDA-approved therapy for CHD, offering hope to thousands of patients suffering from this devastating condition.
