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news.SciClone Pharmaceuticals has announced positive results from pre-clinical studies of its compound SCV-07, which stimulates the body's immune system. The studies suggest that the drug could be effective in the separate indications of human papillomavirus, and Lassa fever.
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Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually-transmitted infections worldwide and can cause genital warts, certain strains of the virus can lead to cervical cancer. In the HPV model study, animals treated with SCV-07 showed a marked reduction in papilloma size and volume of both treated and untreated papillomas. Untreated animals did not experience reduction in papilloma size or volume.
In a model of Lassa fever, SCV-07 decreased the severity of the disease and significantly increased the survival of the animals, compared to animals in the untreated control group. During occasional epidemics of Lassa fever in Africa human fatality rates have been as high as 50%. The Lassa virus is classified as a category A (highest) bio-threat agent by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
“These data underscore the broad applicability of SCV-07, as they demonstrate activity in two dramatically different models of viral infection,” said Dr Cynthia Tuthill, vice president of Scientific Affairs, SciClone Pharmaceuticals.
“We look forward to initiating phase I clinical studies of SCV-07 in healthy volunteers later this year. We anticipate proceeding to a phase II study in a viral or infectious disease indication in 2006.”