09:12 AM EDT, 08/08/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Assembly Biosciences ( ASMB ) said Friday its investigational drug ABI-5366 achieved reductions in viral load shedding and genital lesion rates in a phase 1b trial in participants found seropositive for herpes simplex virus type 2 with recurrent genital herpes.

The company said the drug candidate showed a 94% drop in HSV-2 shedding and lesion rates, and a 98% drop in high viral load shedding, all "statistically significant" results.

The potential treatment was well tolerated at oral doses of up to 350 mg weekly, with no dose-related increase in side effects or lab abnormalities observed, the company said. No serious adverse events have been reported so far, the company added.

Assembly Bio said it plans to start phase 2 preparations while completing the current study, which includes a monthly dosing group.

Shares of the company were up by more than 2% in recent Friday premarket activity.