Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

Update on Biolex program in HCV:

The RBC panel on anti-infectives included Biolex, a private company based in North Carolina that is developing a long-acting formulation of interferon-alpha called Locteron manufactured in transgenic plants (#msg-10846766).

Biolex claims the underlying interferon molecule in Locteron is structurally identical to SGP’s Intron-A, which is non-glycosylated. The Locteron interferon is attached to two polymers that continuously release the interferon over time; Biolex claims that this continuous release avoids the burst effect seen with Peg-Intron and Pegasys that is responsible in large measure for the flu-like symptoms of those drugs.

The phase-2 Locteron trial appears to be a little late getting started; Biolex now expects to release 12-week viral-load data in 2Q07.