Peregrine reports initial results from phase 2 Hep C drug study
20.05.12
Peregrine Pharmaceuticals ( NASDAQ:PPHM ) announced Thursday the initial results from its phase two study of bavituximab in patients suffering from the Hepatitis C (Hep C) virus.
The primary endpoint of the randomized, multi-centre study is to determine the safety and efficacy of the drug in combination with ribavirin, a standard anti-viral treatment, compared to pegylated interferon alpha-2a, another standard anti-viral treatment, in combination with ribavirin.
VP of clinical and regulatory affairs, Joseph S. Shan, said: "We are pleased with the initial results we have seen from this clinical study evaluating the combination of bavituximab with an established antiviral drug in HCV patients.
"We see good evidence that the combination of bavituximab with ribavirin has a better safety profile than an interferon containing regiment which was one of the primary objectives of the study."
The 66 patients enrolled in the study were divided into three groups, with each patient receiving a daily oral dose of ribavirin, and either a weekly 0.3 milligram per kilogram (mg/kg) dose of bavituximab, a weekly 3.0 mg/kg dose of bavituximab, or a weekly 180 µg dose of the pegylated interferon.
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