Pharmasset drug passes early-stage goal
Tuesday August 5, 8:55 am ET
Pharmasset hepatitis C drug candidate meets safety goals in early-stage study
PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) -- Pharmasset Inc. said Tuesday its hepatitis C treatment candidate met safety goals in part of an early-stage study.
The drug candidate, called R7128, was administered to patients over a four-week period in 1,000-milligram doses. The study involved 31 patients.
Safety results were similar to prior sections of the study involving 500-milligram and 1,500-milligram doses. The drug also showed signs of effectiveness, though the study is not designed for that level of testing.
Early-stage, or Phase I clinical trials, are often too small to accurately measure effectiveness and are primarily used to determine dosing levels for later studies and to test for safety. The company expects to have Phase II, or midstage, study results filed with the Food and Drug Administration this fall.
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease that affects a person's liver. It is spread by blood-to-blood contact and symptoms include inflammation and scarring of the liver.
Shares of Pharmasset closed at $22.01 Monday.
surf's up......crikey
