Peregrine to Present Bavituximab HCV Phase Ib Study Results

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals announced that final data from its Phase Ib study of bavituximab in patients with chronic hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection has been accepted for an oral presentation at The Liver Meeting 2007.

Bavituximab is the first investigational agent in a new class of antiphosphotidylserine monoclonal antibodies, the company said.

In preclinical studies, antiphosphotidylserine antibodies have demonstrated their ability to bind to a wide range of enveloped viruses, as well as showing promising activity in animal models of serious viral diseases, according to the company.

Bavituximab was well-tolerated and showed encouraging signs of antiviral activity in Phase Ia and Phase Ib trials in patients with chronic hepatitis C viral infection, the company said.

The company said it expects a clinical trial in patients co-infected with HCV and HIV to begin enrolling patients shortly.