Human Genome Sciences Begins Delivery of First-in-Class Anthrax Treatment to U.S. Strategic National...(counter bioterrorism. These data are co...),Health

HGS has also completed safety studies of raxibacumab in more than 400 human volunteers. The clinical results to date suggest that raxibacumab was generally safe and well tolerated. In addition, clinical data have demonstrated that co-administration of raxibacumab with the antibiotic Cipro (ciprofloxacin) did not affect the pharmacokinetics of either Cipro or raxibacumab, and suggested that raxibacumab can be administered in combination with antibiotics. This is a key finding given the important role that antibiotics are expected to continue to play in the treatment of anthrax disease.

The Need for New Means to Fight Anthrax Infections

Two options have been available for the prevention or treatment of anthrax infections - a vaccine and antibiotics. Both are essential to dealing with anthrax, but both have limitations. The anthrax vaccine takes several weeks following the initial doses before immunity is detectable, and requires multiple injections over a period of eighteen months, in addition to annual booster vaccination, to maintain protective immunity. Antibiotics are effective in killing anthrax bacteria, but are not effective against the anthrax toxins once those toxins have been released into the blood. Antibiotics also may not be effective against antibiotic-resistant strains of anthrax.

ABthrax is a human monoclonal antibody to Bacillus anthracis protective antigen that was discovered and developed by HGS, using technology that HGS has integrated into the Company as part of its collaboration with Cambridge Antibody Technology. Research has shown that protective antigen is the key facilitator in the progression of anthrax infection at the c
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