Advertise With UsAdvertise on our extensive network of industry websites and newsletters.
Get the PBR newsletterSign up to our free email to get all the latest PBR
news.Australia-based drug development company Biotron has started Phase 1b/2a human trial of its HIV drug candidate BIT225.
Subscribe to our email newsletter
During the course of the trial, 18 HIV-positive, treatment-naive patients will be treated with the drug for over 10 days.
In addition, eight more patients will be given a placebo and both groups will then have a 10 day drug-free follow up.
Earlier, Biotron demonstrated that the oral drug can inhibit replication of the HIV virus in monocyte lineage cells. The virus has been able to hid’ from current drug treatments, until now.
Biotron managing director Michelle Miller said the trial would further demonstrate the ability of BIT225 to reduce HIV loads in HIV-infected reservoir cells.
"By specifically targeting HIV in reservoir cells, Biotron’s BIT225 offers the potential to stop the on-going cycle of infection in the body," Miller added.
The company expects to announce the results in the first quarter of 2012.