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news.Californian biopharm company Peregrine Pharmaceuticals has accelerated its clinical program for Tarvacin, an anti-viral designed to treat chronic hepatitis C, expecting to complete patient dosing in its present study months ahead of schedule.
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As a result of rapid enrollment in the phase I hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection study, Peregrine is now targeting completion of patient dosing in February, several months ahead of initial estimates. Safety data from the study will be presented by the end of February 2006.
“In anticipation of completing the phase I study ahead of schedule, we are now initiating additional collaborations with leading researchers and institutions in the HCV field to advance Tarvacin Anti-Viral to the next phase of development,” said Steven King, president and CEO of Peregrine.
In the phase I trial, a single dose of Tarvacin is being tested in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. Data from the current study will enable the company to make preliminary assessments of Tarvacin’s safety, drug distribution and clearance rates.
Since patients with hepatitis C infection are being treated in this study, rather than healthy volunteers, data collected from the trial will be particularly relevant in designing repeat dose and combination therapy clinical trials that are expected to begin later this year. These additional studies will allow more complete assessments of the product’s therapeutic potential.
Tarvacin is a monoclonal antibody with unique anti-viral properties. It helps stimulate the body’s natural immune defenses to destroy both the virus particles and infected cells.
Peregrine has also initiated a phase I cancer trial of Tarvacin for patients with advanced refractory solid tumors.