Human Genome Sciences Announces Positive Results in Second of Two Phase 3 Trials of Albuferon(R) in Chronic H...( - 900-mcg Albuferon (albinterferon al...),Health

- 900-mcg Albuferon (albinterferon alfa-2b) dosed every two weeks met the primary efficacy endpoint of sustained virologic response comparable to peginterferon alfa-2a dosed weekly in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C -

- Patients receiving 900-mcg Albuferon had comparable rates of serious and/or severe adverse events versus peginterferon alfa-2a -

- Filing of global marketing applications planned in fall 2009 -

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 9 /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 1, a Phase 3 clinical trial of Albuferon in combination with ribavirin in treatment-naive patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C (p=0.0008). 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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"These Phase 3 data show that, with half the injections, the efficacy of Albuferon was comparable to Pegasys," said H. Thomas Watkins, President and Chief Executive Officer, HGS. "We are pleased that Albuferon met its primary endpoint in the ACHIEVE 1 trial as it also did in ACHIEVE 2/3. We look forward to the filing of global marketing applications in fall 2009, following discussions with regulatory authorities. Assuming licensure, we believe Albuferon could become a market-leading treatment for chronic hepatitis C."

Stefan Zeuzem, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Chief, Department of Medicine, J.W. Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany, s
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