“The results suggest that Albuferon may offer comparable or improved efficacy versus Pegasys, with half the injections and the potential for less impairment of health-related quality of life,” said David Stump, executive vice president of R&D for HGS.
The interim results of the phase IIb trial showed that the treatment group receiving Albuferon 900mcg doses every two weeks achieved a higher rate of sustained virologic response at 12 weeks following completion of therapy (SVR12), and more favorable health-related quality-of-life scores, than the Pegasys treatment group.
Among treatment-adherent patients, 73% of those in the groups receiving Albuferon every two weeks achieved SVR12, versus 63% for patients receiving Pegasys once a week.
The percentage of patients achieving SVR12 in the treatment group receiving 1200mcg doses of Albuferon every four weeks was comparable to that observed in the group receiving Pegasys once a week, supporting further evaluation of Albuferon treatment with monthly administration.
A recently initiated phase III program is evaluating both 900-microgram and 1200-microgram doses in a much larger patient population. Albuferon is being developed by HGS and Novartis under an exclusive worldwide development and commercialization agreement entered into in June 2006.