Human Genome Sciences Announces Albuferon(R) Meets Primary Endpoint in Phase 3 Trial in Chronic H...( - Albuferon (albinterferon alfa-2b) m...)

- Albuferon (albinterferon alfa-2b) met its primary endpoint of non-inferiority to Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a) in the ACHIEVE 2/3 trial in patients with genotypes 2 and 3 chronic hepatitis C -

- Patients receiving 900-mcg Albuferon had comparable rates of serious adverse events, severe adverse events and discontinuations due to adverse events, vs. peginterferon alfa-2a -

ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) today announced that Albuferon(R) (albinterferon alfa-2b) met its primary endpoint of non-inferiority to peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys) in ACHIEVE 2/3, a Phase 3 clinical trial of Albuferon in combination with ribavirin in treatment-naive patients with genotypes 2 and 3 chronic hepatitis C (p=0.0086). Albinterferon alfa-2b is being developed by HGS and Novartis under an exclusive worldwide co-development and commercialization agreement entered into in June 2006.

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"We are pleased that Albuferon met its primary endpoint in the ACHIEVE 2/3 trial. These Phase 3 data show that the efficacy of Albuferon was comparable to Pegasys, with half the injections," said H. Thomas Watkins, President and Chief Executive Officer, HGS. "We look forward to having the results of ACHIEVE 1, our other Phase 3 trial of Albuferon, in March 2009. If ACHIEVE 1 is successful, we believe Albuferon could become the market-leading interferon for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, and we expect that global marketing applications will be filed by fall 2009."

David Nelson, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Medical Director of Liver Transplantation, and Chief of the Hepatobiliary Disease Section,
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