SciClone hepatitis drug falls short in phase III trial

Treatment with a combination of Zadaxin and pegylated interferon alpha did not demonstrate a statistically significant benefit compared to treatment with pegylated interferon alone in sustained viral response or histologic improvement, the trial’s co-primary endpoints.

Although not statistically significant, a positive Zadaxin treatment-related trend was observed in sustained viral response. In addition, patients who received Zadaxin therapy were less likely to relapse, an occurrence where the virus reappears after previously being undetectable at the end of 48 weeks of treatment.

“While all of us at SciClone are disappointed that this trial did not achieve statistical significance, there are several other important trials ongoing for Zadaxin including the ongoing triple therapy hepatitis C virus clinical trial, as well as a phase II malignant melanoma trial,” said Dr Ira Lawrence, president and CEO of SciClone Pharmaceuticals.