New HCV Drug Prospect Gets Good Marks for Safety
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Novelos ends safety trial of hep C drug on good news
Mass High Tech: The Journal of New England Technology
Thursday, December 13, 2007
www.bizjournals.com
Novelos Therapeutics Inc. reports concluding its initial U.S.-based Phase 1b trial for a hepatitis C therapy with good safety results.
The Newton-based biopharmaceutical company was evaluating NOV-205 as a therapy in chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 patients who had previously failed treatment with interferon plus ribavirin.
Based on favorable safety data in the 14-dose trial with 18 subjects, Novelos said it plans to initiate a longer proof-of-concept trial in hepatitis C nonresponders during the second half of 2008.
NOV-205 has been approved in the Russian Federation, based on a longer duration of dosing in treating hepatitis B and C patients who have not yet received other treatments. NOV-205 was also tolerated well in those studies, officials said.
According to the World Health Organization, chronic hepatitis C affects 170 million people worldwide and up to 4 million people are newly infected each year. Chronic infection can progress to cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma.
