HCV Trial Evaluating 12 Weeks of Therapy With Bavituximab With Ribavirin; Early Virologic Response (EVR) Data Expected by End of 2011 or Early 2012
TUSTIN, CA, USA | September 26, 2011 | Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: PPHM), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancer and viral infections, today announced that it has completed patient enrollment in its second randomized Phase II clinical trial for bavituximab. In this trial, 66 patients with previously untreated genotype-1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were treated with 12 weeks of ribavirin in combination with bavituximab or pegylated interferon alpha-2a. Bavituximab is a phosphatidylserine (PS)-targeting monoclonal antibody with broad therapeutic potential and also is being evaluated in randomized Phase II trials for second-line and front-line NSCLC and pancreatic cancer, as well as in several investigator-sponsored trials (ISTs) in additional oncology indications.
"Bavituximab has been generally safe and well tolerated in three prior Phase I HCV trials and we look forward to assessing its use in combination with ribavirin for patients chronically infected with HCV," said Joseph S. Shan, M.P.H., Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs of Peregrine. "Once all of the patients have completed 12 weeks of therapy, we will determine the proportion of patients achieving an early-virologic response, or EVR, and expect to report data by the end of this year or early next year."
Bavituximab may address a fundamental "immune evasion" mechanism exploited by many infectious pathogens. A growing body of published data from researchers worldwide shows that bavituximab’s PS target, exposed on the surface of cells infected by viruses and protozoan parasites, suppresses the immune system’s ability to fight disease. PS-targeting antibodies such as bavituximab bind to PS and block the immunosuppressive signals created by the target, thereby allowing the immune system to mount a robust immune response against the pathogen.
About the Phase II HCV Trial
In this multicenter Phase II randomized trial, up to 66 patients with previously untreated genotype-1 chronic HCV infection were randomly assigned to one of three treatment arms. Patients are receiving daily oral ribavirin (1000 mg) with either weekly bavituximab (0.3 mg/kg or 3 mg/kg) or pegylated interferon alpha-2a (180 µg) for up to 12 weeks and are being tested for safety parameters and antiviral activity.
The primary endpoint of the study is the proportion of patients achieving early virologic response (EVR), an early predictor of which patients are likely to clear virus with continued treatment. EVR is defined as a greater than or equal to 2 log reduction in HCV RNA after 12 weeks of treatment. Secondary endpoints include safety, tolerability and HCV viral kinetics. For further information about this trial, please visit www.peregrinetrials.com or http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=bavituximab.
About Peregrine Pharmaceuticals
Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company with a portfolio of innovative monoclonal antibodies in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer and serious viral infections. The company is pursuing multiple clinical programs in cancer and hepatitis C virus infection with its lead product candidate bavituximab and novel brain cancer agent Cotara®. Peregrine also has in-house cGMP manufacturing capabilities through its wholly-owned subsidiary Avid Bioservices, Inc. (www.avidbio.com), which provides development and biomanufacturing services for both Peregrine and outside customers. Additional information about Peregrine can be found at www.peregrineinc.com.
SOURCE: Peregrine Pharmaceuticals
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HCV Trial Evaluating 12 Weeks of Therapy With Bavituximab With Ribavirin; Early Virologic Response (EVR) Data Expected by End of 2011 or Early 2012
TUSTIN, CA, USA | September 26, 2011 | Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: PPHM), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancer and viral infections, today announced that it has completed patient enrollment in its second randomized Phase II clinical trial for bavituximab. In this trial, 66 patients with previously untreated genotype-1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were treated with 12 weeks of ribavirin in combination with bavituximab or pegylated interferon alpha-2a. Bavituximab is a phosphatidylserine (PS)-targeting monoclonal antibody with broad therapeutic potential and also is being evaluated in randomized Phase II trials for second-line and front-line NSCLC and pancreatic cancer, as well as in several investigator-sponsored trials (ISTs) in additional oncology indications.
"Bavituximab has been generally safe and well tolerated in three prior Phase I HCV trials and we look forward to assessing its use in combination with ribavirin for patients chronically infected with HCV," said Joseph S. Shan, M.P.H., Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs of Peregrine. "Once all of the patients have completed 12 weeks of therapy, we will determine the proportion of patients achieving an early-virologic response, or EVR, and expect to report data by the end of this year or early next year."
Bavituximab may address a fundamental "immune evasion" mechanism exploited by many infectious pathogens. A growing body of published data from researchers worldwide shows that bavituximab’s PS target, exposed on the surface of cells infected by viruses and protozoan parasites, suppresses the immune system’s ability to fight disease. PS-targeting antibodies such as bavituximab bind to PS and block the immunosuppressive signals created by the target, thereby allowing the immune system to mount a robust immune response against the pathogen.
About the Phase II HCV Trial
In this multicenter Phase II randomized trial, up to 66 patients with previously untreated genotype-1 chronic HCV infection were randomly assigned to one of three treatment arms. Patients are receiving daily oral ribavirin (1000 mg) with either weekly bavituximab (0.3 mg/kg or 3 mg/kg) or pegylated interferon alpha-2a (180 µg) for up to 12 weeks and are being tested for safety parameters and antiviral activity.
The primary endpoint of the study is the proportion of patients achieving early virologic response (EVR), an early predictor of which patients are likely to clear virus with continued treatment. EVR is defined as a greater than or equal to 2 log reduction in HCV RNA after 12 weeks of treatment. Secondary endpoints include safety, tolerability and HCV viral kinetics. For further information about this trial, please visit www.peregrinetrials.com or http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=bavituximab.
About Peregrine Pharmaceuticals
Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company with a portfolio of innovative monoclonal antibodies in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer and serious viral infections. The company is pursuing multiple clinical programs in cancer and hepatitis C virus infection with its lead product candidate bavituximab and novel brain cancer agent Cotara®. Peregrine also has in-house cGMP manufacturing capabilities through its wholly-owned subsidiary Avid Bioservices, Inc. (www.avidbio.com), which provides development and biomanufacturing services for both Peregrine and outside customers. Additional information about Peregrine can be found at www.peregrineinc.com.
SOURCE: Peregrine Pharmaceuticals
Post Views: 85
