David C. Stump, M.D., Executive Vice President, Drug Development, said, Based on the positive interim clinical results that continue to emerge from our ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial of Albuferon in patients with chronic hepatitis C, we are pleased to advance Albuferon to a Phase 2 study in patients who are na ve to treatments with interferon alpha.1, 2 We believe that the Phase 2 study will yield important additional information about Albuferon ™s safety, pharmacology, and biological activity, and also should enable us to identify an optimal range of doses to evaluate in a larger 48-week combination study of Albuferon that we plan to conduct in treatment-na ve patients.
Albuferon is a novel, long-acting form of interferon alpha. Recombinant interferon alpha is approved for the treatment of hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and a broad range of cancers. Human Genome Sciences modified interferon alpha to improve its pharmacological properties by using the company ™s proprietary albumin fusion technology. Human Genome Sciences is developing Albuferon for use in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C infection is an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. The hepatitis C virus is transmitted primarily through significant or repeated exposures to infected blood. In the United States, intravenous drug use and sexual contact with infected persons account for the majority of new hepatitis C infections. When detectable levels of the hepatitis C virus in the blood persist for at least six months, a person is diagnosed as having chronic hepatitis C. The current standard of care for treating chronic hepatitis C is combination therapy consisting of pegylated interferon and ribavirin, an antiviral drug.3
Health professionals interested in more information about trials involving HGSI products are encouraged to inquire via the Contact Us section of the Human Genome Sciences web site, www.hgsi/products/request.html, or by calling (301) 610-5790, extension 3550.
Human Genome Sciences is a company with the mission to treat and cure disease by bringing new gene-based protein and antibody drugs to patients.
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