BIOLEX ANNOUNCES INITIATION OF LOCTERON STUDY

Biolex Therapeutics has announced the dosing of the first cohort of subjects in a Phase I study of Locteron, a next-generation controlled-release form of alfa interferon. Biolex is codeveloping Locteron, in collaboration with the drug delivery and development company OctoPlus, for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Locteron combines BLX-883, a recombinant alfa interferon produced by Biolex in its patented LEX System, with PolyActive, an advanced controlled-release drug delivery technology. The Phase I study is designed to evaluate the safety and pharmacology of

Locteron in 27 healthy volunteers. The randomized, blinded, controlled study is being conducted in the Netherlands and will evaluate single administrations of three different doses of Locteron with comparison to controls consisting of the delivery vehicle, a placebo, and PEG-Intron (a long- acting pegylated alfa interferon)