Human Genome Sciences Announces Initiation of Phase 2b Trial of Albuferon(R) Dosed Monthly in Chronic H...( - Trial conducted by Novartis to eval...)

- Trial conducted by Novartis to evaluate safety and efficacy of Albuferon administered every four weeks in combination with ribavirin in patients with genotypes 2 and 3 hepatitis C -

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) today announced that Novartis has initiated dosing in a Phase 2b trial that will evaluate the safety and efficacy of Albuferon(R) (albinterferon alfa-2b) administered monthly in combination with ribavirin in treatment-naive patients with genotypes 2 and 3 chronic hepatitis C. Albuferon is being developed by HGS and Novartis under an exclusive worldwide co-development and commercialization agreement entered into in June 2006.

(LOGO: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080416/HGSLOGO )

"Patients undergoing treatment for chronic hepatitis C often find it challenging to participate in normal daily activities, especially in the days following dose administration," said Stephen Pianko, M.D., F.R.A.C.P., Ph.D., Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. "Pegylated interferons, the current standard of care, require administration once every week. Albinterferon alfa-2b dosed every four weeks with a total of six injections could offer an important treatment option, if it demonstrates comparable safety and efficacy vs. peginterferon alfa-2a dosed weekly with a total of 24 injections."

In December 2008, HGS announced that Albuferon 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. In these patients, the Phase 3 study showed that 900-mcg Albuferon administered every two wee
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