Published on December 8, 2009 at 5:39 AM
Cytheris SA, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on
research and development of new therapies for immune modulation, today
announced that it has begun enrolling patients in its Phase I/IIa
clinical program evaluating the company’s investigative
immune-modulator, recombinant human Interleukin-7 (CYT107), in
combination with standard antiviral treatment and vaccination in
HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B-infected (HBV) patients.
"Cytheris is currently conducting three clinical trials of CYT107 in
chronic hepatitis C-infected patients in Europe and Asia," said Michel
Morre, DVM, President and CEO of Cytheris, "and we are now pleased to
initiate CONVERT in chronic hepatitis B infection here in Europe,
underscoring our dedication to exploring new treatment options for the
millions of patients throughout the world afflicted with these
devastating viral infections."
“Though the most effective HBV antiviral drugs have shown a remarkable
ability to rapidly drop HBV viral load, even with these powerful drugs
the percentage of patients reaching HBsAg seroconversion -- the ultimate
goal of therapy -- remains low,” said Christophe Hézode, MD, of the
Department of Hepatology-Gastroenterology at Hospital Henri Mondor,
Creteil, France, Principal Investigator and International Study Chairman
for the trial. “This failure to cure the disease explains why
investigators have tried to boost long-term immunological response
through patient vaccination or immunomodulation, though these attempts
have so far been insufficient to fully control the disease. It is our
hope that combining IL-7 with an antiviral and a vaccine will ultimately
result in the production of a protective and long lasting immune
response against the HBV virus in a significant proportion of treated
patients.”
http://www.cytheris.com/
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Posted in: Drug Trial News
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