Oral Interferon-Alpha Lozenges Study

Oral Interferon-Alpha Lozenges Study - Amarillo, CytoPharm Intiates Enrollment For Hepatitis-C Study



Published:29-June-2009



By Staff Reporter

http://www.pharmaceutical-business-review.com



Amarillo (ABI) and CytoPharm have started the enrollment for a study of ABI's oral interferon-alpha lozenges, for chronic hepatitis-C virus infection.



The aim of the trial is to reduce the virologic relapse rate for patients who have completed the standard combination therapy, which consists of high dose injectable interferon-alpha and Ribavirin. Although most patients respond to the standard therapy, up to 50% of those with certain high-risk viral genotypes relapse after treatment.



In this study, a total of 165 patients who test positive for a high-risk hepatitis C viral genotype, will receive one of two different doses of human interferon-alpha or placebo given daily for 24 weeks. Full study enrollment is expected to complete by the end of the year.



The companies announced that CytoPharm is planning a study of oral interferon lozenges in the treatment of influenza, which is to be launched during the 2009/2010 flu season in Taiwan.